Re: Just joining!! IVIG therapy for autoimmune

[Guest guest]

My son gets monthly IVIG infusions that boost his immune system- well

that's a huge understatement I guess- it's a super powerful immune boost

Here's some info about IVIG

http://www.suite101.com/blog/daisyelaine/ivig_therapy

Immunoglobulins are proteins manufactured in the body that the immune

system uses to produce antibodies and various factors, which are used

to communicate with immune system cells and modify the immune

reaction. There are 4 immunoglobulin subtypes, immunoglobulin M (IgM),

immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG or gamma globulin) and

immunoglobulin E (IgE). IgG are the basic component used in the

manufacture of long-acting antibodies.

Immune globulin products derived from human plasma were first used in

1952 to treat patients with conditions of immune deficiency and

chronic lymphocytic leukemia. These first immune globulin transfusions

were administered intramuscularly. In the early 1980s intravenous

preparations of immune globulin (IVIG) were first used to treat

patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, an autoimmune

condition causing platelet deficiencies. Today, IVIG is used in many

different autoimmune disorders, and most IVIG is produced from pooled

human plasma derived from multiple blood donors. IVIG typically

contains more than 95 percent unmodified IgG with intact immune

signaling functions along with trace amounts of IgA and IgM,

cytokines, soluble complement, and HLA molecules.

IVIG is an immunomodulator in that it balances the immune system,

strengthening immune systems that are too weak and reducing activity

in overactive immune systems. IVIG also contains anti-idiotypes that

neutralize various autoantibodies. The activities or benefits of IVIG

therapy include: modulation of the immune chemical known as

complement; suppression of autoantibody production; saturation or

blocking of signaling Fc receptors on macrophage cells and B

lymphocytes; and suppression of inflammatory chemicals, such as the

cytokines, chemokines, and metalloproteinases. Blocking the Fc signal

receptors is one of the primary benefits of IVIG therapy because it

interrupts the normal immune process that results in tissue cell

destruction in autoimmune disorders. Autoantibodies and toxins are

also thought to be neutralized by IVIG. Immune complexes composed of

antigens and antibodies are also reduced. In patients with immune

deficiency syndromes, IVIG boosts immune function and provides

resistance to infection. In patients with autoimmune disorders, IVIG

binds to Fc receptors on cells within the reticuloendothelial system

modulating their immune effects.

IVIG is approved by the FDA for treating: primary immunodeficiency;

autoimmune thrombocytopenia; the vascular disorder Kawaskai disease;

hematopoietic stem cell or bone marrow transplantation in patients

older than 20 years; chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukemia, prevention

of graft vs host disease in transplant patients, and pediatric HIV-1

infection. IVIG is also used off-label in the treatment of aplastic

anemia, red blood cell aplasia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, hemolytic

disease of the newborn, patients with acquired clotting factor

inhibitors, acquired von Willebrand disease, immune-mediated

neutropenia (deficiency of polysegmented white blood cells),

pemphigoid disorders, refractoriness to platelet transfusions, blood

transfusion reactions or consequences, Graves' ophthalmopathy,

pretibial myxedema, multiple sclerosis, CIDP, and various systemic

autoimmune rheumatological conditions including rheumatoid arthritis,

dermatomyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and in

patients at risk for infectious diseases become of compromised immune

systems such as patients with burns, trauma, low birth weight or HIV

infection. IVIG has the potential to benefit any severe autoimmune

disease.

IVIG therapy can cause a number of potential adverse effects and its

cost is often prohibitive. The annual cost of IVIG therapy is often

more than $50,000, and in many disorders, there have been no

controlled studies to determine efficacy of this treatment. Adverse

effects are reported to occur in about 15 percent of patients

receiving IVIG. These effects include: fevers, flushing, chest pain,

muscle aches, headaches, and shortness of breath. These effects are

related to the activation of the complement cascade, which is a normal

immune mechanism involved in healing. The aggregation of

immunoglobulin in IVIG triggers this response. Redness, pain,

phlebitis, and eczema may also occur at the infusion site. Because

some IVIG preparations contain sucrose, the potential for sucrose

uptake by renal tubules resulting in renal failure is another

potential adverse effect. Worldwide, 114 conditions of acute renal

failure resulting in 17 deaths have been reported in patients using

IVIG therapy. Preparations using the highest concentrations of sucrose

have the highest association with renal failure. Renal failure is most

likely to occur in older patients and in patients with impaired renal

function.

Randomized clinical trials are needed to determine the efficacy of

IVIG therapy when used off-label. Trials are especially needed in

conditions such as CIDP, in which high doses of IVIG are used. In

studies of children using IVIG, immediate adverse reactions are seen

in up to 10 percent of patients, and delayed reactions, including

fatal reactions, are seen in up to 41 percent of children. As with any

therapy, the potential benefits must be weighted against potential

adverse effects.

Lori

lucky mom blessed with triplets

www.caringbridge.org/visit/bradenwild

-- In , Chaim Boermeester wrote:

>

> Andre,

>

>

>

> Why would someone with an autoimmune disease want to increase the immune

> system?

>

>

>

> Chaim Boermeester, Israel

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From:

[mailto: ] On

> Behalf Of andrechelini

> Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 04:02

> To:

> Subject: Re: Just joining!!

>

>

>

>

> >

> Hi

> I was diagnosed with PSC 2 years ago and my symptoms were cracking

skin in

> hands and

> feet and elevated liver enzimes, I was introduced by a co-worker to a

> natural product

> called Immunocal which is said to raise the Glutathione levels in

your body

> and therefore

> increase your Immune system I took the product and after 2.5 months

my liver

> enzimes

> returned to normal and my cracking hands have improved radically, it has

> help me out a

> that much that I decided to get involved with the company as a

consulant so

> let me know

> if you want to know more about it.

>

> Andre

>

> > Hey there,

> >

> > Tom Fenton 41y/male with PSC/NASH/stage 3 liver disease with

> > cirrhosis. Had Ulcerative Colitis for ten years and developed cancer

> > and so had colectomy in 1997. Since then, I have elevated

> > alt/ast/alk phos. My liver is enlarged and I have quite a bit of

> > pain. In addition, I have an ependymomas at t10-t11 in my spinal

> > cord. It too, is a autoimmune tumor of my spinal cord which is

> > ganglion and therefore nearly impossible to remove without paralysis.

> >

> > I am on nearly 30 pills a day including Oxycontin, fentanyl patch,

> > amaryl, spirotolatone, lasix, baclofen, xanax, glucafage, rampmil,

> > and a few others.

> >

> > I was turned down for a liver transplant by CU Hospital for BMI,

> > Diabetes, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, and an existing tumor of

> > the spinal cord. All in all they felt I was a bad risk.

> >

> > I take milk thistle for my liver and am a Christian who prays, but in

> > truth am at the end of my rope in coping with all of the stress and

> > comorbidities.

> >

> > Anybody out there know of any good books on PSC? How about any

> > homeopathic remedies that you have tried tha have offered relief.

> > I'm only 41 and life is pretty crappy right now and the doctors tell

> > me its just a matter of time, but I've already had the disease for 7

> > years and can still work.

> >

> > Anyone know what I can expect? Any thoughts?

> >

>