Hypogammaglobulinemia (igg3)

[immunodefiantprncess]

I would like to know the likelihood of three subsequent IVIG treatments early on resulting in "cure" (Meaning (low end) normal numbers several years out) and the likelihood of return of symptoms in the future.  Is there a way to tell this information or is it a crap-shoot based on the fact that everyone's body is different?  Thanks in advance for any info posted. 

[s162216]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

I must admit that I am finding your question a little hard to understand, are you asking whether just 3 IVIG infusions will "cure" your immunodeficiency condition? If that is what your asking then sadly the answer is no as you need to keep having the infusions every 3-4 weeks to maintain decent IgG trough levels (the IgG level immediately before each infusion as the concentration in the body declines exponentially after each infusion because each immunoglobulin only lives for about 3 to 4 weeks), and it can take up to a year before you start maximally benefiting from the infusions.

Even when you do have good IgG levels it will not 'cure' your condition (which is impossible at the moment), and you can expect to develop some infections every so often for which antibiotics will be needed, although they will be less frequent/severe if the IVIG is being used appropriately (e.g correct dosage to maintain good trough levels).

Sorry if thats not what you wanted to hear, but you will very likely gain an improvement in the number of infections etc by having the regular infusions. The best person to ask about this though is your doctor as they will be able to give you the correct information for yourself and the condition that you have.

Hope things work out for you and you stay well,

Sam (Admin)

[john]

Hiya, and welcome from me!
Like Sam says really.
In my opinion having IVIg will not "cure" the underlying problems of antibody deficiency, although having IVIg will certainly help you to feel healthy and better eventually.
In my own case it took a good year until I felt substantially better and my infection rate was down. Twenty years on and I still have infusions and still need antibiotics three or four times a year to deal with the infections I do get.
I have worked in a support capacity for people with antibody deficiency for ten years now, and those patients who did stop having infusions thinking they were better all came back to having them when their infection rate became high again.
Trouble with chancing giving up on the infusions is that you run the risk of infections damaging organs like your lungs in such a way that they can't fully recover.
I'm sure we all hoped that diagnosis and treatment would cure us, the truth is that this incredibly expensive treatment just keeps us well while we're having it, and it's hard to accept that we probably need it for ever.
I'm not a doctor and I don't have the skills that your immunologist has. Like you say, we're all different, so please go see him/her to get their opinion.
Post again with your news, and give us a shorter name to know you by!!!!

[elained]

My guess is that's what actually happened to immunodefiantprincess. She had 3 IVIG treatments and has had low normal levels of all antibodies subsequently.

My answer is that anything can change/happen. Possible, yes, probable no.

However, I had a bizarrely abnormal EEG in 2010, and a completely normal EEG two weeks ago.

My guess is that the abnormal EEG was conducted improperly, or that my results were mixed up with some one else's results.

So as long as there is human error possible princess, test results can be wrong.

And I have read of cases of immune systems slowly declining in strength, so I would guess that a system 'could get stronger'.

However, it is pretty clear that just putting additional immune factors into your system, doesn't 'prime the pump' or teach your body how to make its own immune factors in a better way, in the VAST MAJORITY OF CASES.

At least, that has not been the results over an extended period of time, with lots of testing.

But, the 'black swan' does exist! And perhaps, oh pretty princess, you are the one!

Hugs, Elaine