Intravenous immune globulins (IVIg) have become common in treating immunodeficiences, autoimmune disorders and rheumatologic conditions. Obviously research and testing occurred to produce these solutions that certain people are so thankful for, but what exactly led to the development of IVIg?
Immunoglobulin G (IgG) was first identified in 1944, and through the late 1970s the product was only used to treat primary immune deficiency disease (PID). Children with PID were given the opportunity to experience life in a new way thanks to the therapy, but receiving it was a difficult and painful process so an obvious need existed for a better way to administer the treatment.
In 1979, IVIg was released and represented an even greater hope for people suffering from autoimmune disorders. The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) reveals that, “new Ig preparations…were well tolerated when administered intravenously,” so IVIg became the new treatment of choice. Medical practitioners were hesitant at first and only administered the therapy in hospitals with emergency equipment on hand, but after the safety of the product was proven, it became acceptable to perform at-home treatments.
Check out this article from NHIA for a more in-depth look at the history of IVIg.
Further research and testing continues to occur, and while it is hard to say exactly what replacement therapy will look like in the future, it is exciting to see how far we have already come with the development of immunoglobulin treatments.
Sources:
National Home Infusion Association: http://www.nhia.org/index.cfm
https://www.nhia.org/infusion/documents/2009/JulyAug/SiegelSupplement_JulyAug09.pdf
Tulane University: http://www.tulane.edu/~biochem/med/igg.htm
ImmuneDisease.com: http://www.immunedisease.com/patients-and-families/about-pi/