Abstract
In Canada, intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) products are licensed for six disease indications, however it has been demonstrated that patients with a number of other conditions also benefit from IVIg. Here we report the routine clinical use of Octagam® 10 % across three Canadian institutions. A total of 135 patients were treated with Octagam®, for conditions represented by five distinct indication groups. The results of this review indicate that Octagam® has been well adopted and is prescribed to Canadian patients similar to other IVIg products. In alignment with current practices, 85 % of Octagam’s utilization was classified as appropriate based on Canadian IVIg guidelines.
Highlights
History of intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) The first reported success of antibody therapy was in 1890, when von Behring and Kitasato described how serum extracted from an infected rabbit could protect a naïve rabbit from the effects of diphtheria toxin [1]
Similar to other IVIg products, Octagam® was prescribed to patients with diseases spanning several indication groups: immunology, hematology, neurology, rheumatology, and infectious disease
Octagam® was most often prescribed to patients with diseases included in the immunology indication (PID, SID, acute antibody mediated rejection, desensitization for kidney transplantation, and secondary immune deficiency due to malignancy)
Summary
History of IVIg The first reported success of antibody therapy was in 1890, when von Behring and Kitasato described how serum extracted from an infected rabbit could protect a naïve rabbit from the effects of diphtheria toxin [1]. To help ensure IVIg use is in keeping with an evidence-based approach to the practice of medicine, the National Advisory Committee on Blood and Blood Products (NAC) and Canadian Blood Services developed evidence-based practice guidelines on the use of IVIg for various conditions [7,8,9,10,11,12]. The objectives of these guidelines were to examine the evidence for the use of IVIg in specific conditions and provide recommendations to physicians on the optimal utilization of IVIg therapy in various therapeutic areas
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