Intravenous immunoglobin (IVIg) is well known by many of you for treating a number of conditions within these three categories of illnesses: immunodeficiencies, autoimmune neuromuscular disorders and certain rheumatologic conditions. This plasma product is formed by taking antibodies from about 20,000 donors and mixing them together.
Another exciting use of IVIg is becoming more common and experiencing great success. Women who have suffered through multiple miscarriages are often eligible for IVIg treatment to prevent miscarriage.
Medical studies have indicated that in about half of all cases of repeat miscarriages, immune mechanisms are at fault. When the immune system is the cause of miscarriage, chances of having a successful pregnancy without treatment after three miscarriages is 30 percent, after four miscarriages is 25 percent and after five miscarriages is only 5 percent. In these instances where miscarriages are the result of a woman’s body recognizing the embryo as a foreign object and causing her natural killer cells to attack, IVIg can be an effective treatment.
The exact way in which IVIg addresses this issue is unclear. There is debate whether IVIg blocks or soaks up and diffuses those antibodies that cause the body to reject pregnancy.
Generally, IVIg treatment begins in the first month of pregnancy and continues through week 28. There is some evidence that beginning treatment prior to conception is beneficial.
Studies have indicated IVIg is a very effective miscarriage prevention treatment. Some studies have shown success rates as high as 80 percent. Despite its high success rate, many insurance plans do not cover IVIg as a means of preventing miscarriage.
This new development in the use of IVIg provides additional support to the belief that IVIg is a treatment that improves lives.
Sources:
The InterNational Council on Fertility Information Dissemination