Reader Teleconference:
Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Connect with others and get your questions answered from experts on a variety of topics related to living with a chronic illness.

Topic: Major Co-Morbid Conditions in Primary Immunodeficiencies
Guest Speaker: Terry O. Harville, MD, PhD

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Columns

Let's Talk: Profile: Kelly Bruski

When your children have a rare disease, you will do whatever is necessary to make sure they get the care they need to survive. For Kelly and Kyle Bruski, that means traveling nearly 500 miles round trip each month from their farm in Baker, Mont., to an infusion clinic in Billings. The Bruski’s two young sons 7-year-old Taylor and 3-year-old Colton have an inherited immune disorder that requires monthly infusions of immune globulin (IG).... more

Product Guide

Healthy Hydration to Minimize IVIG Side Effects

For many patients treated with intravenous immune globulin (IVIG), infusion day is wrought with potential pitfalls due to a host of common side effects. While most side effects fall into the mild to moderate category, they can nonetheless be bothersome. Patients report symptoms that include headache, flushing, chills, myalgia, wheezing, tachycardia, lower back pain, nausea and hypotension. Headaches and migraines tend to be relatively common, both of which can be treated with antihistamines, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and steroids, both before and after an infusion.... more

Ask the Experts

Reader: Can IVIG Infusions Result in a Pulmonary Embolism?

Abbie: I spoke with immunologist Terry O. Harville, MD, regarding your question. He states that IVIG infusions, on rare occasions, have resulted in thrombotic events in various parts of the body such as PE. These events tend to occur in older patients who are receiving high doses of concentrated IVIG over short time frames, which are typically used to treat autoimmune disorders such as CIDP.... more