title: A Retrospective Longitudinal Within-Subject Risk Interval Analysis of Immunoglobulin Treatment for Recurrent Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recurrent acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are common, debilitating, costly and often difficult to prevent.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed records of patients who had COPD and immunoglobulin (Ig) treatment as adjunctive preventative treatment for AECOPD, and documented all AECOPD episodes for one year before and after initiation of Ig treatment. We graded AECOPD episodes as moderate for prescription of antibiotics and/or corticosteroids or for visit to the Emergency Department, and as severe for hospital admission. We conducted a retrospective within-subject self-controlled risk interval analysis to compare the outcome of annual AECOPD rate before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 22 cases of certain COPD, of which three had early discontinuation of Ig treatment due to rash and local swelling to subcutaneous Ig, and five had incomplete records leaving 14 cases for analyses. The median baseline IgG level was 5.9 g/L (interquartile range 4.1-7.4). Eight had CT radiographic bronchiectasis. Overall, the incidence of AECOPD was consistently and significantly reduced in frequency from mean 4.7 (± 3.1) per patient-year before, to 0.6 (± 1.0) after the Ig treatment (p = 0.0001). There were twelve episodes of severe AECOPD (in seven cases) in the year prior, and one in the year after Ig treatment initiation (p = 0.016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ig treatment appears to decrease the frequency of moderate and severe recurrent AECOPD. A prospective, controlled evaluation of adjunctive Ig treatment to standard therapy of recurrent AECOPD is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Juthaporn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.affiliation: Clinical Epidemiology Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Logan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gaudet
authors.affiliation: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.|Clinical Epidemiology Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mulpuru
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.|Clinical Epidemiology Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Corrales-Medina
authors.affiliation: Clinical Epidemiology Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hawken
authors.affiliation: Clinical Epidemiology Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.|Clinical Epidemiology Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Shawn D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Aaron
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.|Clinical Epidemiology Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: D William
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins