The use of intravenous immune globulin in multiple myeloma.

Author(s): Chapel HM, Lee M

Affiliation(s): Department of Immunology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.

Publication date & source: 1994-07, Clin Exp Immunol., 97 Suppl 1:21-4.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial

Patients with multiple myeloma suffer from serious bacterial infections throughout the course of the disease. This is probably associated with reduced polyclonal immunoglobulin synthesis. Prophylactic intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) reduces the incidence and recurrence of these infections in the stable phase of the disease. Infections at times of induction chemotherapy and/or relapse have a wider range of causative organisms. Such susceptibility may be associated with abnormal phagocytic function following chemotherapy.