ABSTRACT
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been used primarily for immune deficiency patients, and its greatest expansion is seen more and more in the treatment of autoimmune disorders, especially in neurology. The benefits of IVIG treatment include its availability in all treatment centers and its ease of administration in an outpatient setting. This article gives an overview of some autoimmune neurologic diseases and explores the clinical evidence supporting the use of IVIG.
Subject(s)
Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System/drug therapy , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use , Immunologic Factors/therapeutic use , Patient Selection , Acute Disease , Ambulatory Care , Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System/immunology , Chronic Disease , Dermatomyositis/drug therapy , Evidence-Based Medicine , Guillain-Barre Syndrome/drug therapy , Humans , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/adverse effects , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/immunology , Immunologic Factors/adverse effects , Immunologic Factors/immunology , Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome/drug therapy , Myasthenia Gravis/drug therapy , Plasma Exchange , Polymyositis/drug therapy , Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating/drug therapy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
As the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IGIV) continues to expand, infusion nurses have a greater need for a comprehensive understanding of the product, patient risk factors, and comorbidities when developing guidelines for administering IGIV. Because immunoglobulin therapy is a blood derivative product, many nurses may not have as much experience administering this type of infusion. This article provides an in-depth overview of immunoglobulin therapy and helps to define the infusion nurse's major role in coordinating, assessing, and ensuring patient safety during IGIV administration.
