title: Complications of intravenous immune globulin treatment in neurologic disease.
abstract: Intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) is advocated as a safe treatment for immune-mediated neurologic disease. We reviewed the medical records of 88 patients who were given IVIg for a neurologic illness. Major complications in four patients (4.5%) included congestive heart failure in a patient with polymyositis, hypotension after a recent myocardial infarction, deep venous thrombosis in a bed-bound patient, and acute renal failure with diabetic nephropathy. Other adverse effects included vasomotor symptoms 26, headache 23, rash 5, leukopenia 4, fever 3, neutropenia 1, proteinuria (1.9 g/day) 1, viral syndrome 1, dyspnea 1, and pruritus 1. Fifty-two patients (59%) had some adverse effect of IVIg infusion, most commonly vasomotor symptoms, headaches, fever, or shortness of breath in 40 (45%), which improved with reduced infusion rate or symptomatic medications. Five (6%) had asymptomatic laboratory abnormalities and seven (8%) had other minor adverse effects. Adverse effects led to discontinuation of therapy in 16% and permanent termination of therapy in 10% of patients. There was no mortality or long-term morbidity. Although adverse effects were frequent, serious complications were rare except in patients with heart disease, renal insufficiency, and bed-bound state.
authors.affiliation: Neurological Institute, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Brannagan
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Nagle
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Rowland
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous