title: Hypogammaglobulinemia and infection risk in solid organ transplant recipients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypogammaglobulinemia may develop as a result of a number of immune deficiency syndromes that can be devastating. This review article explores the risk of infection associated with hypogammaglobulinemia in solid organ transplantation and discusses therapeutic strategies to alleviate such a risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypogammaglobulinemia is associated with increased risk of opportunistic infections, particularly during the 6-month posttransplant period when viral infections are most prevalent. The preemptive use of immunoglobulin replacement results in a significant reduction of opportunistic infections in patients with moderate and severe hypogammaglobulinemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Monitoring immunoglobulin G levels may aid in clinical management of solid organ transplant recipients. The preemptive use of immunoglobulin replacement may serve as a new strategy for managing solid organ transplant recipients with hypogammaglobulinemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mawhorter
authors.forename: Mohamad H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yamani
mesh_terms: D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors