This article was originally published here

Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2020 Aug 12. doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2020.1807328. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Secondary immunodeficiency diseases (SID) caused by hematological malignancies (HMs), stem cell transplant (SCT), and associated therapies are mainly characterized by the presence of hypogammaglobulinemia or antibody production deficits.

AREAS COVERED: The authors summarized the scientific literature on disease burden of SIDs in patients who had HMs or SCT. Systematic searches were conducted to identify English-language articles from 1994-2020, reporting on clinical, humanistic, and economic burdens of SID due to HMs or SCT. Definitions of SID and serum immunoglobulin G thresholds varied across the 24 studies that met eligibility criteria. In most (n=16) studies, patients received immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IGRT). Several studies found IGRT was associated with significant reductions in rates of infection and antimicrobial use. However, 1 study found no statistically significant difference in antibiotic use with IGRT. Only 3 studies reported on quality of life, and no economic studies were identified.

EXPERT OPINION: Overall, the findings show several beneficial effects of IGRT on clinical outcomes and quality of life; however, disparate definitions, infrequent reporting of statistical significance, and scarcity of clinical trial data after the 1990s present areas for further investigation. This paucity indicates an unmet need of current evidence to assess the benefits of IGRT in SID.

PMID:32783541 | DOI:10.1080/1744666X.2020.1807328

Read more from the original source:
A systematic literature review of the effects of immunoglobulin replacement therapy on the burden of secondary immunodeficiency diseases associated...