title: The response to intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in patients with asthma with specific antibody deficiency.
abstract: In a retrospective analysis of our patient population, 20 difficult-to-treat patients with asthma were found to have clinical and laboratory evidence of specific antibody deficiency, and several had mild hypogammaglobulinemia. Intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy at 400-600 mg/kg every 3-4 weeks gave remarkable clinical benefits, with reduction in morbidity, number of hospitalizations, steroid therapy, and number of respiratory infections. We believe that, in this group of patients, the use of intravenous immunoglobulin perhaps allows the achievement of asthma prevention rather than an amelioration of inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital and University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Howard J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hostoffer
authors.forename: E Regis
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: McFadden
authors.forename: Melvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D017099:IgG Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid