Study of use of intravenous immunoglobulin in pediatric intensive care unit in a tertiary care center: An audit and review of evidence

Abstract

Introduction: The label and off-label use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is done as a replacement therapy also for immunomodulation. As there are no standard guidelines for the use of IVIG in PICU; hence, the need to study the pattern of indications for which IVIG has been used in critically ill children and review the quality of evidence as per the available data. Materials and Methods: The retrospective chart review of indications for IVIG therapy in children over a period of 4 years in a tertiary care PICU from January 2015 to December 2018. Collection of data included demographic profile, indication of transfusion of IVIG, dose of IVIG received, and outcome of the patients. Results: The IVIG therapy was given to 301 children under the following groups, 120 children for neuroimmunologic disorders, 73 children for cardiology-related indications, 65 children for infection and infection-related causes, 31 children for autoimmune diseases, seven and five children each for primary immunodeficiency and dermatological causes, respectively. The indications, for which IVIG therapy given included, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 56 children, under evidence category Level Ia in 50 children and with strength of recommendation Grade A in 51 children. Conclusion: There is a rise in off-label use of IVIG as the quality of evidence is variable for different indications hence there is a need for better quality of evidence and more multicentric randomized control trials to define the precise impact of IVIG on various conditions.