Utilization of intravenous or subcutaneous immunoglobulins in secondary immune deficiency (ULTIMATE): A retrospective multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION

We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients receiving Immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IgRT) for secondary immune deficiency (SID) during 2012.

METHODS

Data were retrospectively collected from the first dose of Ig administered in 2012 to 1 year afterward in terms of the indication for IgRT, as well as efficacy and safety.

RESULTS

In total, 16 hospitals participated in the study, and 368 patients were included. Indications for IgRT were non-Hodgkin lymphoma (82 [22.3%] patients), multiple myeloma (76 [20.7%]), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (64 [17.4%]) and other (79 [21.5%]). Only 89 (24.2%) patients received IgRT according to 2011 European Medical Agency (EMA) recommendations; 196 (53.3%) received prophylactic antibiotics and 262 (76.2%) had an IgG level < 4 g/L before IgRT initiation.

CONCLUSION

In this study, whatever the criteria, only 24.2% of patients with SID who received IgRT met EMA recommendations, which suggests a misuse of IgRT in SID.