title: The life situations of patients with primary antibody deficiency untreated or treated with subcutaneous gammaglobulin infusions.
abstract: The life situations of 25 patients with hypogammaglobulinaemia were studied before and after the initiation of subcutaneous replacement therapy by using medical records, data registers and questionnaires (a study and a disease-specific questionnaire, the Sickness Impact Profile and the General Health Rating Index). Before treatment, the patients perceived more dysfunctions with regard to ambulation, mobility, emotional behaviour, social interaction, sleep and rest, household management, work and recreation or pastime activities compared with a Swedish reference group (P = 0.0001). A significant increase in the perceived frequency of infections was also seen in untreated patients compared with a group of healthy individuals (P = 0.0001). After 18 months of weekly subcutaneous infusions of an intramuscular gammaglobulin preparation (100 mg/kg), the patients reported a significantly increased, health-related function and improved self-rated health. A significantly higher pre-infusion IgG level was also found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gardulf
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Björvell
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hammarström
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D005719:gamma-Globulins