What is ivig given for?

If you’ve ever been to a hospital or know someone who has, then you might have heard of something called intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. It sounds like a mouthful doesn’t it? Almost like a tongue twister! But don’t worry; we’re here to clear up any confusion and answer the question on everyone’s mind – what is IVIG given for?

Let’s Break it Down

Before we explain why IVIG is given, let’s first talk about what exactly it is. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) refers to pooled blood plasma that contains thousands of antibodies.The antibodies help fight against infections in our body which boosts immunity.

In simpler terms, it’s basically taking the good stuff from someone else’s blood and giving it to you so your body can fight off whatever illnesses are lurking around inside your system.

Why Use IVIG Therapy?

So why use this fancy shmancy therapy instead of popping some aspirin or other over-the-counter medication when feeling ill? Well, traditional medications rely on synthetic or artificial ingredients that may not necessarily be effective against certain viruses, autoimmune diseases etc.Requires multi-pronged approaches- attack multiple arms at one time. That’s where IVIG comes in handy – since all those antibodies come directly from healthy people, they are usually supercharged with nutrients and vitamins that our bodies really benefit from during moments of weakness.

This unique aspect means doctors prefer them whenever there aren’t better non-biological options available. The typical usage scenarios involve treatment for following ailments:

Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune disorders arise when an individual’s immune system starts attacking their own cells/tissues/organs as if they were foreign objects invading the body . These disorders can include;

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(SLE)
  • Myasthenia Gravis – a neuromuscular condition with grave consequences
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) – another neurological disease which often starts from peripheral areas

Infectious Diseases

IVIG therapy can also be effectively used to prevent infection in children who suffer from:

  • Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)-an enduring disorder which damages nerve covering.
  • Kawasaki Disease-A rare but fatal ailment that affects young kids and restricts blood flow.

Apart from the ones mentioned above, it may also fight infections such as;

  • HIV/AIDS
  • Chronic Hepatitis B&C • Covid-19 & Emerging viruses

What’s interesting is the pre-pandemic usage was significantly less than what emerged post COVID.

Using Ivig for covid started in Wuhan per research published on positivehealthwellness.com,

The methods of IC use include plasma collected by patients who have recovered or been vaccinated against COVID-19, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and hyperimmune globulin fractionation produced using pooled antibodies.

How Does IVIG Therapy Work?

Now that we’ve covered the “what” and “why”, let’s dive into how IVIG therapy works. Once you receive an IV of this Good stuff™️, your body absorbs all of those delicious nutrients present within minutes through the bloodstream. It’s sorta like receiving a nutrient-rich meal via an infusion rather than poppin’ a pill before lunch; only much more instantaneous!

Once these nutrients enter your bloodstream, they go straight to work creating new antibodies!! These newly formed antibodies help defend your immune system by warding off any chronic illnesses or even fighting normal day-to-day infections.Imagine employing secret elite troops trained on defeating specific types of germs— the ones that your current immune system is too complacent to recognize.

Since this therapy and its results rely on individual’s immune systems, therefore expect differing reactions. The effectiveness will be different person to person just like the way we all have unique DNA codes!

Possible Side Effects

Even though IVIG therapy seems magical – it’s not without its side effects!! Some of these can include;

  • Headaches – a common side effect which may persist for up to 2 days post-treatment.
  • Nausea/vomiting– have one-two lousy stomach days
  • Allergic Reactions Including ANAPHYLAXIS!: most serious.That’s why patients are monitored closely during the treatment/care plan- especially those whose cases involve taking high doses or been receiving it for prolonged periods.

Conclusion

So, what is IVIG given for? Simply put, it’s given in order to supplement an individual’s weakened immune system fighting chronic autoimmune diseases & sometimes viral infections., In addition ,it also serves as prophylactic measure against infectious diseases in immunocompromised patients.

Though IVG cannot totally replace curative treatments designed explicitly for ailments such as SLE,since various factors contribute to efficacy including time-window besides many unknowns.IVIG should accessible and made available whenever possible if non-biological alternatives aren’t effective.Gone are the times when only super rich could afford these miracle injections.While they might still seem crazy ‘n mysterious you’ve now hopefully experienced light enough material demystifying intravenous immunoglobulin.

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