Home intravenous immunoglobulin therapy by self-administration.
Immunoglobulin replacement therapy is required by patients with certain antibody deficiency syndromes and is finding increasing application in other immune disorders such as immune thrombocytopenia. We describe the long-term home administration of intravenous gamma-globulin by seven patients themselves using a portable infusion pump. Over a period of as long as 2 years, this has proven to be effective, safe, and cost efficient and a good alternative to hospital or physicians' office-based infusions.
D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000628:therapy; D004406:Dysgammaglobulinemia / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral / Q000295:instrumentation; D012646:Self Administration; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D005719:gamma-Globulins