Pulmonary Embolism as an Adverse Drug Event of Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy

Authors

Katasha S. Butler
Deborah S. Zeitlin, Butler UniversityFollow

Document Type

Letter to the Editor

Publication Date

2003

Publication Title

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy

First Page

1530

Last Page

1530

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1345/aph.1D037L

Abstract

TO THE EDITOR: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy has gained popularity for the treatment of neuromuscular diseases (i.e., myasthenia gravis, inflammatory myopathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy), although adverse events are associated with high-dose IVIG infusions.^1,2 Common adverse reactions to IVIG therapy are anxiety, headache, fever, chills, chest pain, dyspnea, nausea, and abdominal pain.³ More serious adverse events include anaphylaxis, hemolytic anemia, hepatitis C, and thrombosis.³ Studies have shown documented effects of IVIG on blood rheology. It increases plasma viscosity in a dose-related response and may also activate platelets.^2–4 High-dose IVIG therapy is approximately 24–54 g/d.⁴

Rights

This is a post-print version of an article originally published in Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 2003, Volume 37.

The version of record is available through: Sage.

Recommended Citation

Butler, Katasha S. and Zeitlin, Deborah S., "Pulmonary Embolism as an Adverse Drug Event of Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy" (2003). Scholarship and Professional Work – COPHS. 182.
https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cophs_papers/182