Unlike many of the medications prescribed by rheumatologists, IVIG does not increase the risk for infection. IVIG works in different ways to prevent the body from attacking itself and to decrease several types of inflammation in the body.
IVIG is given as an intravenous infusion (through the vein in the arm), which takes several hours to complete. Frequency of infusions vary according to the patient’s need. It may be given as a one-time infusion (such as for Kawasaki’s disease). For other diseases, it may be given from anywhere between one to five days on a monthly basis. Frequency and duration of infusions depend on the underlying disease and the clinical course. IVIG can take several weeks to fully take effect.
Yesterday, during my visit with my Oncologist and because I was experiencing frequent infections, he decided to return me to receiving IVIG every other month. I will be meeting with the Oncologist every month at least during these first few months to make sure that I am tolerating IVIG.
Potential Side Effects
The majority of people do well with IVIG, experiencing only minor side effects. IVIG may cause infusion reactions, including fevers, chills, flushing, rash, muscle aches, and nausea. Headaches are also relatively common. These are generally not severe and improve with analgesics and antihistamines. Additionally, because the medication has a large volume, it may worsen heart failure and may cause the blood pressure to be elevated temporarily. IVIG also increases the risk for blood clots slightly when given in high doses.
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