Adverse Reactions to Intravenous Immunoglobulins - Our Experience

Adverse reactions to intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) are divided by organ system involved, or by timing of onset-immediate which occur during infusion usually rate-related, true IgE-mediated anaphylaxis and delayed reaction which occur hours to days after the infusion.

To describe the adverse events of patients given IVIG infusions.

Total number of patients receiving IVIG was 41 with 25 males (60.97%) and 16 females (39.02%), age 2 months-35 years. A total number of infusions was 1350.

Total number of adverse reactions 15, 14 patients with immediate-type and 1 with delayed type. Total percentage of adverse reactions in a given sample was 1.1% of all IVIG infusions. Fever was the most common immediate type of reaction occurring in 11 patients (78.57%) followed by acrocyanosis 10 patients (71.42%), skin rash 9 patients (64.28%) and headache 8 patients (57.14). Delayed-type of reactions (like fever, headache and vomiting) was present in one patient. Majority of the adverse effects occurred at the infusion rate higher than 1, 5 ml/kg/hour, which is still within recommended speed.

About 1.1% of IVG infusions where with adverse events. Most common manifestations where: fever, acrocyanosis, skin rash and headache, which occurred 1-6 hours from the beginning of the infusion. The occurrence of adverse reactions to IVIG was related to the infusion rates in a fashion that faster infusion rate gives more reactions. Adverse reactions were managed by reduction of the infusion rate and administration of medications such as paracetamol, antihistamines and steroids.