Predictive factors of first dosage intravenous immunoglobulin-related adverse effects in children

Adverse events associated with intravenous immunoglobulin infusions in pediatric patients with primary immunodeficiency: A 10-year single-center study

BACKGROUND

Intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIg) is used as a replacement therapy in primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDs). Although IVIg is generally accepted as a safe treatment, the incidence of adverse events (AEs), most of which are mild and transient, varies between 1 % and 81 %. The aim of this study was to determine the adverse effects and influencing factors associated with IVIg replacement therapy in pediatric patients with PID.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Children with PID who received IVIg replacement therapy between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2021, at Dr. Sami Ulus Children's Hospital were included in our study.

RESULTS

Overall, 69 (52 male, 17 female) patients who received a total of 2,025 IVIg infusions were evaluated. AEs were observed in 40.6 % of the patients and in 8.9 % of the infusions. All AEs encountered in the study were mild to moderate. Immediate-onset AEs were observed in 3.5 % of the infusions and delayed-onset AEs in 5.4 %. Late-onset AEs were not observed. The most commonly observed AEs were headache (n = 50, 2.5 %), fever (n = 37, 1.8 %), and malaise (n = 19, 0.9 %). The most common immediate AE was fever (n = 28, 1.4 %), while the most common delayed AE was headache (n = 44, 2.2 %).

CONCLUSION

AEs encountered in patients with PID receiving IVIg infusions are mild to moderate. Pediatric patients should be followed up for delayed AEs by contacting their families after the infusion is completed and should be questioned before the next infusion. IVIg replacement is a safe treatment when given with an appropriate premedication and infusion rate.

IVIG-induced Aseptic Meningitis in an Adult Patient With Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) therapy is used to treat various autoimmune, immunodeficiency, and inflammatory conditions. One of the rare, but serious, side effects is aseptic meningitis. In this case report, we present a 55-year-old female who experienced IVIG-induced aseptic meningitis for treatment of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP).

Abducens nerve palsy: a rare copresenting sign of incomplete Kawasaki Disease

A 21-month-old girl presented with acute-onset esotropia with unexplained fever, conjunctivitis, and rash. Sensorimotor examination revealed the presence of a left abducens nerve palsy. After cardiogenic shock, she was found to have multiple large coronary artery aneurysms and was diagnosed with incomplete Kawasaki disease. The patient eventually had near-resolution of her abducens nerve palsy with treatment for her underlying Kawasaki disease through aspirin, infliximab, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. Abducens nerve palsy is a rare manifestation of Kawasaki disease that may reflect a late diagnosis and an increased risk of coronary artery involvement.

Incidence of adverse events related to intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in children

BACKGROUND

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy is used in the treatment of pediatric diseases, although data about IVIG-related adverse events (IVIG-AEs) are limited. Objectives of this study were to document the incidence of IVIG-AEs in pediatric hospitalized patients and to identify risk factors for IVIG-AEs.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included patients <18 years old who received IVIG therapy while admitted at a Canadian pediatric tertiary care center between 2016 and 2020. Patients and IVIG-perfusions characteristics were collected, as well as IVIG-AEs. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to explore predictors of IVIG-AEs.

RESULTS

We included 228 children, totaling 478 IVIG perfusions. Indications included treatment for inflammatory (52.6%), autoimmune disorders (35.5%), and immunoglobulin replacement (11.8%). A total of 213 IVIG-AEs were reported. Fever (13.6%) and headache (6.7%) were the most frequent IVIG-AEs. Most IVIG-AEs were mild (57%) or moderate (31%) in severity, but 12% were severe reactions. The following factors were predictive of IVIG-AEs in univariate analyses: older age (OR 1.14 [95% CI: 1.07-1.21]), dehydration (OR 2.55 [95% CI: 1.43-4.55]), concurrent allergies (OR 2.87 [95% CI: 1.26-6.56]), first perfusion (OR 1.53 [95% CI: 1.02-2.30]), and higher dosage (OR 2.14 [95% CI: 1.39-3.33]). Concurrent steroids decreased the risk of IVIG-AEs (OR 0.43 [95% CI: 0.19-0.96]). Older age and higher IVIG dose remained independent predictors of IVIG-AEs in multivariable analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Mild IVIG-AEs are frequent in children, and serious reactions may occur. Prospective studies are needed to confirm risk factors for IVIG-AEs and to evaluate how to best prevent them.

Intravenous immunoglobulin alteration in response to adverse reactions in neurological conditions: A retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is an important treatment in a range of neurological conditions. There is currently limited evidence regarding the frequency and management of IVIg-associated adverse reactions (AR) in neurological disorders.

METHODS

A single-centre 18-month retrospective cohort study was conducted for all patients at a single tertiary hospital receiving IVIg as an inpatient or the medical day unit. Electronic medical record AR and alerts were reviewed for entries relating to IVIg, and prescribing records associated with recent IVIg administration were reviewed for the use of premedications. Case note review was undertaken to identify AR associated with alterations in IVIg treatment (such as reduction in rate, use of premedications or cessation of IVIg). Demographic, patient, and treatment factors were analysed for associations with AR necessitating alteration in IVIg treatment.

RESULTS

This study included 98 individuals who received IVIg during the study period. Of these, 12 (12.1%) patients required an alteration in their IVIg treatment. In total, 3 (3.1%) of the 98 included patients required a reduced rate of IVIg, and 10 (10.2%) patients received premedication. The most common premedications were normal saline at the time of the infusion, cetirizine, and hydrocortisone. No demographic factors, indications or comorbidities were found to be associated with an increased likelihood of AR. However, an IVIg daily dose of >35 g and >45 g were associated with an increased likelihood of requiring IVIg treatment alteration due to AR.

CONCLUSIONS

Alterations to IVIg treatment due to AR are commonly required in neurology patients, and may be associated with higher daily doses of IVIg.

Real-world experience with CLAIRYG® 50 mg/mL (intravenous immunoglobulin) in children under 12 years with primary immunodeficiency or immmune thrombocytopenia: a post-approval safety study

Introduction

This study presents the results of a real-life, multicenter, prospective, post-approval safety evaluation of Clairyg® 50 mg/mL, a 5% intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) liquid, in 59 children (aged < 12 years) with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) (n = 32) or immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) (n = 27) in France.

Methods

The primary objective of the study was to assess the safety and tolerability of Clairyg®, recording all serious and non-serious adverse events (AEs), whether related (rAEs) or not related to the product. Secondary objectives aimed at evaluating the administration of Clairyg® under routine conditions and the available efficacy data to better document the benefit/risk ratio in this pediatric population. An exploratory objective was added to evaluate the potential factors associated with the occurrence of rAEs. Patients received Clairyg® according to the approved dosage under normal conditions of prescriptions over a median follow-up period of 11.8 months.

Results

A total of 549 infusions (PID: n = 464 and ITP: n = 85), were administered, of which 58.8% were preceded by premedication. The most frequent rAEs were headache, vomiting, and pyrexia in both indications. Most of them were considered non-serious and mild or moderate in intensity. A severe single rAE was observed (aseptic meningitis) in a 4-year-old girl presenting with chronic ITP. The exploratory multivariate analysis of potential co-factors showed that the occurrence of rAEs is significantly linked to high IVIg doses and possibly to female gender. The annualized rate of serious bacterial infections was 0.11 for patients with PID. For patients with ITP, 74.1% experienced at least one bleeding episode during the follow-up, mostly a cutaneous one, and none had gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or central nervous system bleeding.

Conclusion

Clairyg® was well tolerated and allowed for control of serious bacterial infection in PID and serious bleeding in ITP, which are the main complications in these respective pediatric disorders. No new safety signal was detected in children less than 12 years-old in real-life conditions of use.

Intravenous Immunoglobulin-Induced Aseptic Meningitis—A Narrative Review of the Diagnostic Process, Pathogenesis, Preventative Measures and Treatment

Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) are widely used in the treatment of numerous diseases in both adult and pediatric populations. Higher doses of IVIGs usually serve as an immunomodulatory factor, common in therapy of children with immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Considering the broad range of IgG applications, the incidence of side effects in the course of treatment is inevitable. Aseptic meningitis, an uncommon but significant adverse reaction of IVIG therapy, can prove a diagnostic obstacle. As of April 2022, forty-four cases of intravenous immunoglobulin-induced aseptic meningitis have been reported in the English-language literature. This review aims to provide a thorough overview of the diagnostic process, pathophysiology, possible preventative measures and adequate treatment of IVIG-induced aseptic meningitis.

Adverse reactions in a large cohort of patients with inborn errors of immunity receiving intravenous immunoglobulin

BACKGROUND

Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) are the major treatment in inborn errors of immunity (IEI) disorders; However, IVIg infusions show some adverse effects. We aimed to assess the adverse reactions of IVIg infusions.

METHODS

Data of IVIg infusions in IEI patients were collected from 2011 to 2021. Totally, 363 IEI patients received IVIg regularly in Iran entered the study. The adverse reactions are classified regarding their severity and chronicity.

RESULTS

22,667 IVIg infusions were performed in the study. 157 patients (43.2%) and 1349 (5.9%) infusions were associated with at least one type of adverse reaction. The highest rates of adverse reactions were seen in severe combined immunodeficiency. Myalgia, chills, headache, fever, and hypotension were the most frequent adverse effects of IVIg.

CONCLUSION

The reactions affect almost half of the patients mainly in the first infusions which necessitate the close observation of IEI patients receiving IVIg.

Pediatric NMOSD: A Review and Position Statement on Approach to Work-Up and Diagnosis

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) primarily affecting the optic nerves and spinal cord, but also involving other regions of the CNS including the area postrema, periaqueductal gray matter, and hypothalamus. Knowledge related to pediatric manifestations of NMOSD has grown in recent years, particularly in light of newer information regarding the importance of not only antibodies to aquaporin 4 (AQP4-IgG) but also myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-IgG) in children manifesting clinically with this syndrome. In this review, we describe the current state of the knowledge related to clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and chronic therapies for children with NMOSD, with emphasis on literature that has been published in the last 5 years. Following the review, we propose recommendations for the assessment/follow up clinical care, and treatment of this population.