Persisting infections under IgG substitution: Need for further improvement

Since many years, immunoglobulin G (IgG) substitution has been used to treat patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PID) to reduce the number of infections and the burden of disease. Nevertheless, many patients continue to suffer from persisting infections. In this SINUS study, a patient questionnaire consisting of 21 questions was used to assess the current situation in patients with PID. Of the 160 patients included, most showed a persistent tendency to infections (N=140, 87.5%). During the last 12 month, most of the patients suffered from upper and lower respiratory tract infections such as sinusitis (N=85, 60.7%), bronchitis (N=88, 62.9%), and pneumonia (N=10, 7.1%). Yet the presence of persistent infections was not inversely correlated with patient satisfaction. Therefore, the treating physicians need to carefully evaluate the infection history and additional therapeutic approaches are required for satisfying improvement in the patient's infection control. Patients are open to explore new ways to achieve this goal.