If you or someone you know has recently been prescribed IGIV therapy to treat a specific condition, you may not fully understand what IGIV is or how this therapy works. This section of our website will help educate you about what IGIV is and how it is administered, any possible side effects that can arise from therapy, and the different brands of IGIV products available for you to choose from.
It is important that you know as much as you can about IGIV therapies, because they are very different from other medications. First, IGIVs are made from human blood plasma, so safety and protection against viruses that might be present in donor blood must be a top priority for manufacturers. Second, different IGIVs use different methods to inactivate/remove viruses, and to purify and stabilize their IGIV formulation. These differences in production methods can influence how well a patient tolerates an IGIV product, how effective the IGIV is and how conveniently it can be used and administered. For example, some patients can experience side effects with one brand of IGIV, but tolerate another brand of IGIV very well.
Our goal is to provide you with important information that can help you and your doctor make the choice of which IGIV therapy or treatment is right for you. You and your doctor must work together to find the IGIV that is best for you, to ensure that you benefit from this therapy and to minimize any side effects as much as possible. You should also consider the convenience of a product, such as the maximum infusion rate you can tolerate. For example, if you do not tolerate fast infusion with one IGIV, it does not mean that you will have the same issues with another brand. All these things will help you and your doctor choose the right IGIV product for you.
Remember, your doctor or healthcare provider is the single best source of information regarding you and your health. Please consult your doctor if you have any questions about your health, your symptoms, or your therapy.
Below is a list of frequently asked questions. Simply click on the question to open a pop-up window containing the answer.
Gamunex, Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human), 10% Caprylate/Chromatography Purified, is indicated as replacement therapy of primary humoral immunodeficiency disease (PI) and as immunomodulatory therapy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Gamunex is contraindicated in individuals with known anaphylactic or severe systemic response to Immune Globulin (Human).
Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human) products have been reported to be associated with renal dysfunction, acute renal failure, osmotic nephrosis and death. Patients should be instructed to immediately report symptoms of decreased urine output, sudden weight gain, fluid retention/edema, and/or shortness of breath (which may suggest kidney damage) to their physicians.
While these reports of renal dysfunction and acute renal failure have been associated with the use of many of the licensed IGIV products, those containing sucrose as a stabilizer accounted for a disproportionate share of the total number. Gamunex does not contain sucrose. Glycine, a natural amino acid, is used as a stabilizer.
There have been reports of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, rare reports of hemolytic anemia, and very rare reports of aseptic meningitis in patients administered with IGIV. Thrombotic events have been reported in association with IGIV. Patients at risk may include those with a history of atherosclerosis, multiple cardiovascular risk factors, advanced age, impaired cardiac output, and/or known or suspected hyperviscosity. As with all plasma-derived therapeutics, the potential to transmit infectious agents cannot be totally eliminated.
Gamunex is made from human plasma. Products made from human plasma may contain infectious agents, such as viruses, that can cause disease. The risk that such products will transmit an infectious agent has been reduced by screening plasma donors for prior exposure to certain viruses, by testing for the presence of certain current virus infections, and by inactivating and/or removing certain viruses. Despite these measures, such products can still potentially transmit disease. There is also the possibility that unknown infectious agents may be present in such products. Individuals who receive infusions of blood or plasma products may develop signs and/or symptoms of some viral infections, particularly hepatitis C.
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