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Immunoglobulin Therapy (immunoglobulin + therapy)
Kinds of Immunoglobulin Therapy Selected AbstractsEvidence for Humoral Rejection of a Pancreatic Islet Graft and Rescue with Rituximab and IV Immunoglobulin TherapyAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 8 2009L. Kessler We describe the decline in islet function, in relation to HLA sensitization, in an islet transplant recipient and the recovery of this function after treatment with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody and IV immunoglobulins. A 51-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes received one intraportal islet infusion. Following this transplantation, she became insulin independent. A search for HLA antibodies by using an ELISA technique remained consistently negative for HLA class I and II. It was only 2 years after the islet transplantation that this search became positive against class II antigens, reaching a peak of reactivity concomitantly with the appearance of a deterioration of glucose control requiring low-dose insulin therapy. Luminex® screening and single-antigen assays then revealed the presence of both nondonor-specific and donor-specific antibodies against HLA class II molecules. This immunization, already present in the pretransplant serum, had increased during the 6 months preceding the clinical deterioration. Since these data nevertheless pointed to antibody-mediated rejection of the islet allograft, treatment with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody and IV immunoglobulins was initiated. One month later, the search by ELISA for antibodies against HLA class II antigens became negative, the Luminex® tests normalizing more gradually. As the result of an improvement in glucose control, the patient was again insulin-free. [source] Immunoglobulin therapy: history, indications, and routes of administrationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2004Catherine R. Weiler MD First page of article [source] Neonatal isoimmune thrombocytopenia caused by type I CD36 deficiency having novel splicing isoforms of the CD36 geneEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Takeshi Taketani Abstract Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) occurs because of transplacentally acquired maternal platelet alloantibodies. Most of the alloantibodies are against human platelet antigens, but the alloantibody against CD36 is rare. A full-term female baby was delivered by a mother who experienced two spontaneous abortions. The baby had thrombocytopenia with cephalhematoma. The platelet count increased by immunoglobulin therapy (400 mg/kg) for 3 d. Platelet antibody was detected in the postpartum maternal serum. The specificity of the antibody directed against platelets was identified as anti-Naka (CD36). Flow cytometric analysis showed no expression of CD36 in both platelets and monocytes from mother. Mutation analysis revealed two different splicing isoforms of maternal CD36 mRNA. One allele was exon 4 skipping, another was exon 9 skipping, both of which led to a frameshift and produced a truncated CD36 protein. These results indicate that NAIT is caused by maternal CD36 deficiency having CD36 splicing abnormalities. [source] A new ELISA assay for diagnosis of acquired von Willebrand SyndromeHAEMOPHILIA, Issue 3 2003C. Siaka Summary. The pathophysiology of acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS), a rare bleeding disorder, is not fully understood. Circulating antibodies to Von Willebrand factor (VWF) are found in patients with AVWS associated with lymphoproliferative disorders but these autoantibodies are difficult to detect with routine laboratory tests and neutralisation assays. We have developed a simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect serum antibody binding to VWF protein immobilized on polystyrene plates. Ten patients with AVWS were studied, eight of whom also had lymphoproliferative disorders. We found antibodies in eight patients; all of them were positive for IgG and five were also positive for IgM. This simple method appears to be more sensitive than functional assays, which failed to identify two of the patients who were positive with the ELISA. In conjunction with other tests, this ELISA method may be useful for demonstrating the immunological mechanism underlying some cases of AVWS. Such patients would qualify for intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, which can correct the clotting disorder. [source] Treatment of recurrent hepatitis B infection in liver transplant recipientsLIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 10B 2002Norah A. Terrault MD 1Therapeutic decisions are guided by a patient's clinical status (severity of disease and presence of comorbidities) and previous drug-exposure history. 2Lamivudine is safe and effective in liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection caused by wild-type virus or failure of hepatitis B immunoglobulin therapy. Lamivudine resistance, developing in approximately 25% after 12 months of therapy, is its main limitation. 3Famciclovir is safe in liver transplant recipients; however, virological and clinical responses are less consistent than with lamivudine. Thus, lamivudine is favored over famciclovir as first-line therapy in transplant recipients with no previous exposure to nucleoside analogues. 4Although limited in availability, adefovir dipivoxil appears safe and effective in treating liver transplant recipients with lamivudine-resistant HBV disease. Close monitoring of renal function is recommended, with dose adjustment in patients with reduced creatinine clearances. 5Limited data suggest that intravenous ganciclovir, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and interferon alfa may be useful as rescue therapies for patients with lamivudine- or famciclovir-resistant HBV disease. 6Antiviral therapy with two or more suitable agents may minimize the chance for viral resistance; therefore, future therapeutic strategies likely will use combination therapy in the long-term management of recurrent HBV disease. [source] Randomized controlled trial of short-term withdrawal of i.v. immunoglobulin therapy for selected children with human immunodeficiency virus infectionPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2007GALIA GRISARU-SOEN Abstract Background: The aim of the present paper was to determine whether monthly i.v. immunoglobulin (IVIG) could be safely discontinued in antiretroviral-treated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children. Methods: In a double-blind cross-over trial, children ,18 years with HIV infection, well controlled on antiretroviral therapy, were randomized to alternating courses of 3 consecutive months of IVIG (400 mg/kg once a month) and 3 consecutive months of placebo for 1 year. The primary outcome was days of fever per month. Secondary outcomes were frequency of serious infections, changes in HIV viral load (VL), CD4+ counts and IgG levels. Results: Fifteen children were enrolled. Using the revised pediatric HIV clinical classification system of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eight were severely symptomatic (C), four were moderately symptomatic (B) and three were mildly symptomatic (A). There were no statistically significant outcome measures. The mean number of days of fever per month with IVIG versus placebo was 0.55 days versus 1.48 days (P = 0.11). The difference was 0.9 days (95% confidence interval: +2.05 to ,0.25). There were no serious infections in either period. For the IVIG versus placebo periods, mean CD4 counts were 970 cells/,L versus 906 cells/,L (P = 0.12), VL 2.90 log10 copies/mL versus 2.82 log10 copies/mL (P = 0.70) and IgG levels were 17.41 g/L versus 16.6 g/L (P = 0.13). Conclusion: In antiretroviral-treated HIV-infected children short-term withdrawal of monthly IVIG was not associated with a significant increase in incidence of infections or a decline in immunologic function (CD4 count, viral load and IgG levels). These results suggest that monthly IVIG can be safely discontinued in HIV-infected children who are clinically stable and receiving combination antiretroviral therapy. [source] Re-treatment regimens for acute stage of Kawasaki disease patients who failed to respond to initial intravenous immunoglobulin therapy: Analysis from the 17th nationwide surveyPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2007RITEI UEHARA Abstract Background: Current regimens for re-treatment of patients with Kawasaki disease who failed to respond to the initial intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy are still uncertain. The purpose of this study is to reveal what regimens were used as the initial therapy and re-treatment for acute stage of Kawasaki disease in the current Japanese medical setting. Methods: The 17th nationwide survey on Kawasaki disease covered patients whose onset was in 2001 and 2002. In questionnaires sent to all hospitals with a bed capacity of 100 or more and a pediatric department, several questions related to therapeutic regimens for Kawasaki disease were posed. The authors observed the proportions of hospitals that had regimens for patients who failed to respond to the initial therapy. Results: Among those hospitals that responded to the survey, 1052 (64.1%) reported that at least one patient with Kawasaki disease visited the hospital. Among these 1052 hospitals, 73.3% had a regimen to administer 30,39 mg/kg per day of oral aspirin with initial IVIG. The proportion of hospitals that used 1 g/kg per day of IVIG for 2 days was the largest among the options for the initial treatment. For those patients who fail to respond to the initial therapy, 464 hospitals (44.1%) reported that their pediatricians would use additional IVIG only. The number of hospitals that planned to administer high-dose IVIG and ulinastatin was 185 (17.6%). The number of hospitals having regimens of additional IVIG and steroids was 54 (5.1%). Conclusions: The current status of the treatment for patients with Kawasaki disease not responding to the initial IVIG therapy in Japan was revealed. A randomized trial of a large sample is needed to ascertain the effectiveness of several options for re-treating Kawasaki disease. [source] Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis associated with hepatitis A infectionPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2004Bülent Ünay No abstract is available for this article. [source] Postrenal Transplant Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Thrombotic Microangiopathy Associated with Parvovirus B19 InfectionAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 6 2008M. R. Ardalan Persistent anemia is a known consequence of Parvovirus B19 (B19) infection following renal transplantation. However, to date, no description of B19-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) exists in renal transplant recipients. We report a 24-year-old male kidney recipient, who presented with fever, severe anemia and allograft dysfunction two years following transplantation. Hyperferritinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase, pancytopenia and fragmented red blood cells on the peripheral blood were also noted. Bone marrow examination revealed giant pronormoblasts and frequent histiocytes with intracellular hematopoietic elements, consistent with HLH. Renal allograft biopsy revealed closure of the lumen of glomerular capillaries and thickening of the capillary walls compatible with thrombotic microangiopathy. The presence of anti-B19 IgM antibody and viral DNA in the patient's serum (detected by real-time PCR) confirmed an acute B19 infection. Following high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, the anemia gradually resolved and renal function improved. As far as we know, this is the first report of B19-associated HLH and thrombotic microangiopathy in a renal transplant recipient. [source] Hepatitis B prophylaxis post-liver transplant without maintenance hepatitis B immunoglobulin therapyCLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 2 2006Dilip S. Nath Abstract: Background: We examined outcomes in recipients who underwent a liver transplant for HBV-induced liver disease and received a protocol for prophylaxis that did not use HBIG maintenance. Results: Between October 2002 and July 2005, a total of 14 liver transplant recipients were identified that met the study criteria. Mean recipient age was 47.6 yr; mean donor age was 37.2 yr. Category of transplant was as follows: cadaveric liver (n=10, 71%), cadaveric split-liver (n=2, 14%), and cadaveric liver,kidney (n=2, 14%). Liver disease was diagnosed at a mean of 7.3 yr before transplant; three (21%) had a coexisting hepatocellular cancer at the time of transplant. Pre-transplant, all 14 (100%) recipients were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive, and 11 (79%) were HBV DNA positive (mean viral load of 251.2 pg/mL). Three (21%) were E antigen positive, and one (7%) was D antigen positive. Pre-transplant, seven patients (50%) were on anti-viral therapy and there was documented diminution in viral loads after initiating anti-viral therapy in 3 cases. Three (21%) were hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigen positive and all had low-RNA titers. With mean follow-up of 14.1 months, all 14 patients are alive with a functioning graft. Mean ALT, AST and total bilirubin values are currently at 43.2, 32.2, and 0.84, respectively. One recipient remains HBsAg surface antigen positive post-transplant but has normal lab values. The remaining recipients have no evidence of HBV recurrence by serology and protocol biopsies. The regimen has been well tolerated without the need for drug reduction or discontinuation because of side-effects. Conclusion: Longer follow-up is needed, but this regimen may represent an alternative to chronic HBIG maintenance therapy. [source] |