Supply, use, and abuse of intravenous immunoglobulin

A Nowak-Wegrzyn1, H M Lederman

  • 1Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Eudowood Division of Allergy and Immunology, Baltimore, Maryland 21287-3923, USA. anowak@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu

Intravenous immunoglobulin is used as a replacement therapy in primary immunodeficiency diseases as well as an immunomodulatory agent in a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. The mechanisms of intravenous immunoglobulin action are complex and, for some disorders, not well understood. This paper reviews the recent literature and discusses approved, new, and controversial indications for intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, with special emphasis on its mechanism of action.

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