Safety of intravenous immune globulin in an outpatient setting for patients with neuromuscular disease.

INTRODUCTION

Although intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) is used to treat patients in the outpatient setting, there is limited documentation addressing the safety of this practice.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 438 patients with neuromuscular diseases receiving IVIg in an outpatient setting.

RESULTS

Adverse events (AE) overall occurred in 16.9% of patients. Headache was the most common AE, noted in 11.6% of patients. Serious AEs occurred in 0.91% of patients; aseptic meningitis was the only one noted. Multivariate analyses identified the following risk factors for AEs: first-lifetime course of IVIg, higher dose per course of IVIg, diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, women, and younger age.

DISCUSSION: Intravenous immune globulin is generally safe to administer in an outpatient setting. Women, myasthenia gravis patients, and those receiving their first course or a higher total dose of IVIg are at an increased risk of experiencing an AE.