Treatment of antibody immunodeficiency

The basis of treatment of patients with hypogammaglobulinemia, primary or secondary, is immunoglobulin replacement. Current immunoglobulin derivates contain highly purified IgG from healthy human donors. Intravenous or subcutaneous route are almost exclusively used at present. The treatment must be individualized. Adequate doses of immunoglobulin derivates must be administered to avoid frequent and severe infections of the respiratory tract. Antibiotic prophylaxis may be alternative and complementary treatment to immunoglobulin substitution.