Purpose: The aim was to review the compliance, side effects and effectiveness of subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) supplementation in patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PID) who had previously received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy and subsequently switched to SCIG, as well as to compare these parameters in patients while considering body weight.
Methods: Demographic data, clinical and laboratory findings, SCIG dose, and side effects of 87 patients were retrospectively obtained from patient files. In patients who first received IVIG and then SCIG, the monthly SCIG dose was calculated by multiplying the IVIG dose by 1.37. The total monthly SCIG dose was distributed via injection across three or four doses per month, thus every 7 or 10 days.
Results: Of the 87 patients aged between one and 22 years, 50 were male (57.5%) and 37 were female (42.5%). The serum IgG levels of the SCIG group were higher and more stable than those of the IVIG group. The number of hospitalizations and infections decreased significantly after initiation of SCIG. Thirteen patients (14.9%) had low body weight (LBW) for their age, seven of whom were male (53.8%). Serum IgG levels of the LBW cohort were significantly elevated and more stable during the SCIG period than the IVIG period. Mild, local side effects were detected in 153 administrations (3.3%) in 30 patients with normal body weight, while no local reactions were recorded in the patients with LBW.
Conclusion: SCIG supplementation is an effective treatment for pediatric patients with PID. The preliminary data from the present study suggest that such treatment is also safe for LBW children. The numbers of patient hospitalizations and family visits to clinics were reduced, allowing our patients and their parents to live more normal lives.
Keywords: Primary immunodeficiency; Subcutaneous immunoglobulin; low body weight; malnutrition.
© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.