Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Assessment of Antibody-based Drugs Effects on Murine Bone Marrow and Peritoneal Macrophage Activation
10:35

Assessment of Antibody-based Drugs Effects on Murine Bone Marrow and Peritoneal Macrophage Activation

Published on: December 26, 2017

Pharmacokinetics of immunoglobulin administered via intravenous or subcutaneous routes

Francisco A Bonilla1

  • 1Division of Immunology, Children's Hospital Boston, Fegan Building, 6th Floor, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. francisco.bonilla@childrens.harvard.edu

Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America
|October 23, 2008
PubMed

This article reviews pharmacokinetic studies of IgG administration by intravenous and subcutaneous routes. Intravenous immunoglobulin pharmacokinetics have been studied during replacement therapy for primary and secondary immunodeficiencies and other special circumstances (eg, infection prophylaxis in neonates). Subcutaneous immunoglobulin pharmacokinetics have been studied only during replacement therapy for primary immunodeficiency. Published studies vary greatly with respect to the nature of the patients studied, dose regimens, sampling schedules, and pharmacokinetic models, making comparisons difficult. With either route of administration, there is large variation in individual IgG elimination rates. Periodic measurement of serum IgG concentration is critical to monitor the adequacy of replacement during therapy.

More Related Videos

In Vivo Immunofluorescence Localization for Assessment of Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibody Biodistribution in Cancer Research08:53

In Vivo Immunofluorescence Localization for Assessment of Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibody Biodistribution in Cancer Research

Published on: September 16, 2019

Intralymphatic Immunotherapy and Vaccination in Mice07:33

Intralymphatic Immunotherapy and Vaccination in Mice

Published on: February 2, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Routes of Drug Administration: Parenteral01:25

Routes of Drug Administration: Parenteral

The administration of drugs via parenteral routes allows for direct drug introduction into the systemic circulation, resulting in high bioavailability because the medication bypasses the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and hepatic metabolism.
The intravenous route (IV) of drug administration can be further categorized into two types. The bolus injection administers the entire dose rapidly, while an intravenous infusion slowly delivers smaller doses steadily.
The IV route is often...
Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route01:29

Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route

The parenteral route is a critical method of drug administration. It delivers compounds directly into the systemic circulation and bypasses the gastrointestinal tract. This approach is particularly advantageous for drugs that exhibit poor absorption or instability when administered orally.
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...
Dosage Interval and Administration Route: Determination Methods01:19

Dosage Interval and Administration Route: Determination Methods

A medication’s effectiveness largely depends on its appropriate dosage and the route of administration. Dosage ensures that a sufficient drug concentration is maintained in the bloodstream to elicit the desired therapeutic effect without causing toxicity. The route of administration affects the drug's bioavailability, rate of absorption, and onset of action, which are crucial for achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes. Drug dosage calculations are critical to tailoring therapy to individual...
Bioavailability: Overview01:13

Bioavailability: Overview

Bioavailability refers to the proportion of an unaltered drug that, after administration, enters the systemic circulation and can be distributed to the desired action site. Factors such as gastrointestinal (GI) absorption and liver biotransformation influence the bioavailability of a drug when it is administered orally. When a drug is administered intravenously, it enters the systemic circulation directly; by definition, its bioavailability is assumed to be 100%. The bioavailability of an...
Bioavailability: Overview01:17

Bioavailability: Overview

Bioavailability refers to the proportion of an administered drug that reaches the systemic circulation in its active, unaltered form. It is a crucial pharmacokinetic parameter that determines the effectiveness of a drug in achieving its intended therapeutic outcomes. The route of administration significantly influences bioavailability, with intravenous administration achieving 100% bioavailability as the drug directly enters the bloodstream. In contrast, oral administration often results in...
Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Drug Elimination for IV Bolus Injection00:59

Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Drug Elimination for IV Bolus Injection

In pharmacokinetics, the elimination rate of a drug following a capacity-limited model is primarily controlled by two parameters: Vmax and KM. These parameters are crucial in how the drug behaves inside the body after administration.
Following the administration of a single intravenous (IV) bolus injection, we can determine the concentration of the drug in the plasma at any given time. This calculation is achieved using a specific equation that integrates the values of Vmax and KM.
We can also...