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Neurological Disorders and Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) Therapy

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Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a type of immunotherapy that has been used for nearly 30 years to treat neurological disorders. IVIG was first approved by US regulatory agencies to treat chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) in 2008. In 2021, IVIG was approved to treat dermatomyositis.1

Neurological conditions for which IVIG currently has indicated use includes CIDP, severe dermatomyositis/polymyositis, Kawasaki syndrome, and multifocal motor neuropathy. IVIG has off-label use for Guillain-Barré syndrome and myasthenia gravis.2 While just as effective as plasmapheresis and steroids, unlike plasmapheresis and steroids, IVIG is found to be safe and effective long term.3

What is intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)?

Immunoglobulin (IG) given intravenously, or through a vein, is called intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Immunoglobulin is a human blood product containing proteins that likely link themselves with antibodies or other substances directed at the nerve.4 It’s made from the donated antibodies of between 1,000-15,000 human donors per batch.5 The human body has different antibodies to fight different infections, like how there are different keys for different locks. If the body does not have enough antibodies or has damaged antibodies, IVIG can help replace them.

Where can a patient receive IVIG therapy?

A patient can typically receive IVIG therapy in their home or physician’s office. At BioMatrix, our nursing team coordinates the best site of care for scheduled infusions. For many patients needing regular infusions, choosing home as their site of care is a convenient and comfortable option. Research indicates that home infusion is a safe method of receiving IVIG therapy for neurological conditions.6,7,8

Additional benefits to home infusion include:

  • Less risk of infection. Hospitals and infusion centers can take every precaution available, yet in these environments patients still have the potential for exposure to bacteria or viruses they would likely not encounter in their homes.
  • Cost savings. Home infusion reduces the burden on costlier sites of care, saving money for both patients and payers.9
  • Patient wellbeing. Patients report significantly better physical and mental wellbeing with less disruption to daily activities, overwhelmingly preferring home infusion.10

Summary

The treatment of Neurological disorders using IVIG has become the standard of care in many neurological practices throughout the United States. BioMatrix provides site-of-care options for IVIG that offer convenience for patients and cost-savings to insurance providers. 

As a national provider of IG, BioMatrix also has broad access to brands and inventory supply. We purchase IG directly from manufacturers or manufacturers’ approved distributors, ensuring distribution channel integrity, proper handling, and quality control. 

To learn more about our IVIG capabilities to treat neurological conditions, visit:

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. All information, content, and material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider or as legal advice. Please consult a physician or other health care professional for your specific health care and/or medical needs or concerns and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here or on our website.

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References

  1. Dalakas M. C. (2021). Update on Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Neurology: Modulating Neuro-autoimmunity, Evolving Factors on Efficacy and Dosing and Challenges on Stopping Chronic IVIg Therapy. Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics, 18(4), 2397–2418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-021-01108-4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8585501/#:~:text=IVIg%20inhibits%20the%20differentiation%20and,IVIg%2Dresponding%20autoimmune%20neurological%20diseases.

  2. (2023). Indications. Lexicomp. https://online.lexi.com/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/fc_dfc/6647276?cesid=1cTY1wl5C8I&searchUrl=%2Flco%2Faction%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DIVIG%26t%3Dname%26acs%3Dfalse%26acq%3DIVIG%26nq%3Dtrue

  3. Zandman-Goddard, G., Krauthammer, A., Levy, Y., Langevitz, P., & Shoenfeld, Y. (2012). Long-term therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin is beneficial in patients with autoimmune diseases. Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology, 42(2), 247–255. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-011-8278-7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21732045/

  4. Shehata N. (2023) Patient education: Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/intravenous-immune-globulin-ivig-beyond-the-basics#:~:text=WHAT%20IS%20IVIG%3F,to%20help%20you%20fight%20infection

  5. Jolles S, Sewell WA, Misbah SA. Clinical uses of intravenous immunoglobulin. Clin Exp Immunol. 2005 Oct;142(1):1-11. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2005.02834.x. PMID: 16178850; PMCID: PMC1809480.

  6. Le Masson G, Solé G, Desnuelle C, et al. (2018). Home versus hospital immunoglobulin treatment for autoimmune neuropathies: a cost minimization analysis. Brain Behav. 2018;8(2):e00923. doi: 10.1002/brb3.923

  7. Luthra R, Quimbo R, Iyer R, Luo M. (2014). An analysis of intravenous immunoglobin site of care: home versus outpatient hospital. Am J Pharm Benefits. 2014;6(2):e41-e49.

  8. Schmidt R. (2012). Home Infusion Therapy: Safety, Efficacy, and Cost-Savings. PSQH. https://www.psqh.com/analysis/home-infusion-therapy-safety-efficacy-and-cost-savings/

  9. Home Infusion Creates Savings for Patients, Taxpayers. NHIA. https://nhia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Home_Infusion_Creates_Savings_for_Patients_Taxpayers.pdf

  10. Polinski J, Kowal M, Gagnon M, Brennan T, Shrank W. (2016). Home infusion: Safe, clinically effective, patient preferred, and cost saving. NIH. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28668202/

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