IVIG Therapy Today

Our understanding of the humoral (B-cell) immune system has increased dramatically in recent years. IVIG Therapy Today highlights new "third generation" IgG products for intravenous use. Commercial gammaglobulin preparations first appeared in the early 1980s, and, since that time, therapeutic applications of intravenous immune serum globulin, or IVIG, have been developed at a rapid pace. Uses include replacement therapy in patients with antibody deficiencies and immunoregulatory/immunomodulatory agents in treatment of the autoimmune diseases.§In two major parts, IVIG Therapy Today first presents reviews of primary and acquired humoral/B-cell immune deficiencies, featuring IVIG as replacement therapy, then explores the immunomodulatory effects of IVIG in autoimmune disorders. Chapters cover a wealth of timely background information and clinical applications, including: IVIG replacement therapy in primary immune deficiency syndrome IVIG in prevention and treatment of neonatal bacterial infections potential use of monoclonal antibodies in neonatal infections immune deficiencies in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma IVIG in treatment of children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and autoimmune cytopenias IVIG therapy in neonatal isoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura and alloimmunization thrombocytopenias IVIG in Kawasaki disease and other autoimmune diseases use of intravenous serum globulin in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies and recurrent pregnancy losses IVIG in neurologic diseases IVIG in asthma management.§Dr. Ballow has assembled an outstanding collection of state-of-the-art information, making IVIG Therapy Today an essential guide for specialists in clinical and experimental immunotherapy.