title: European surveillance of immunoglobulin safety--results of initial survey of 1243 patients with primary immunodeficiencies in 16 countries.
abstract: A European multicenter study was conducted to obtain information on the current practices of immunoglobulin administration, the policies in use for the surveillance of the risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission, and the natural history of HCV infection in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia. Data from 1243 patients with primary immunodeficiencies in 16 countries demonstrated that 90% of patients with antibody deficiencies receive intravenous immunoglobulins in an inpatient setting, and 7% of patients are treated with subcutaneous immunoglobulins, mainly at home. Wide variations have been reported regarding the frequency and the type of tests monitored for the surveillance on the risk of viral hepatitis transmission. Only 60% of patients have been tested at least once for HCV RNA detection. Data from 71 HCV-infected patients demonstrated a rapid progression of HCV infection, with end-stage liver disease, in about 40% of patients. Ten percent of patients spontaneously cleared the virus, and about 30% are asymptomatic. Patients with CVID have a worse prognosis than patients with XLA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185, Rome, Italy. isabella.quinti@uniroma.it
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Quinti
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pierdominici
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marziali
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giovannetti
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donnanno
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chapel
authors.forename: Janne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bjorkander
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aiuti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017074:Common Variable Immunodeficiency / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D012367:RNA, Viral