Intravenous immunoglobulin in heart transplant recipients with mild to moderate hypogammaglobulinemia and infection

Johnny Hoang, Jill Krisl, Mozhgon Moaddab, Duc T. Nguyen, Edward A. Graviss, Imad Hussain, Mahwash Kassi, Rayan Yousefzai, Ju Kim, Barry Trachtenberg, Arvind Bhimaraj, Ashrith Guha

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Hypogammaglobulinemia (HGG) is a complication of solid organ transplantation leading to increased risk of infections. Intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) replacement in patients with HGG may be able to reduce risk and morbidity associated with infection; however, there is scarce data about IVIG in mild to moderate HGG (IgG 400–700 mg/dl) and heart transplant recipients. Methods: A single center, retrospective study was performed in heart transplant recipients with mild (IgG 500–700 mg/dl) to moderate (IgG 400–499 mg/dl) HGG in the presence of an infection. Results: Forty-two patients were included in this study; 19 patients (45.2%) received IVIG and 23 (54.8%) patients did not. Patients in the IVIG group received on average one dose of IVIG at 0.5 g/kg. No differences in incidence of new infection at 3 months (26.3% vs. 17.4%; P =.71) and 6 months (42.1% vs. 34.8%; P =.63) were observed between the IVIG and non-IVIG groups. Infections based on mild or moderate HGG also had no differences at 3 and 6 months. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a single infusion of IVIG in mild to moderate HGG may have little to no benefit in reducing incidence of new infections. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere14571
Pages (from-to)e14571
JournalClinical Transplantation
Volume36
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2022

Keywords

  • heart transplantation
  • hypogammaglobulinemia
  • infection
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use
  • Heart Transplantation/adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Transplant Recipients
  • Agammaglobulinemia/drug therapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Transplantation

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