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Let's Talk: Heidi Plavecsky

As a patient advocate for the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) and a primary immunodeficiency disease (PI) patient, Heidi has been privileged to serve alongside her mother and son who is also a PI patient. Noting that career options for patients with PI have expanded significantly since she was a young adult, Heidi is currently pursuing her nursing degree...
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Product Guide

Managing IVIG Adverse Effects

Intravenous Immune globulin (IVIG) is a very effective treatment that frequently provides disease improvement for people who have suffered years of misdiagnosis and medications that did not help. For some people such as those with primary immunodeficiency, IG therapy is the only treatment for their condition. But, because IVIG evokes an immune response, side effects can be expected. Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate and even eliminate them. Additionally, there are more serious reactions that are rare, so it's imperative to understand what these are and how to take steps to decrease their occurrence... full article (pdf)

Ask the Experts

Reader: Do children with PANDAS need to be isolated from unvaccinated individuals?

Abbie: I spoke with Terry O. Harville, MD, PhD, medical director of the Special Immunology Laboratory at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, about your concern. He said PANDAS is associated with streptococcus, which is treated by... full article (pdf)