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Subcutaneous immunoglobulins in patients with multiple myeloma and secondary hypogammaglobulinemia: a randomized trial.

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Published:28th Nov 2017
Author: Vacca A, Melaccio A, Sportelli A, Solimando AG, Dammacco F, Ria R.
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Ref.:Clin Immunol. 2017. pii: S1521-6616(17)30633-2.
DOI:10.1016/j.clim.2017.11.014
Subcutaneous immunoglobulins in patients with multiple myeloma and secondary hypogammaglobulinemia: a randomized trial


Multiple myeloma is commonly associated with a reduction of non-paraprotein immunoglobulins, resulting in a higher risk of infections that represent the leading cause of the patients' death. Therefore, immunoglobulin replacement therapy appears a logical approach. A total number of 46 myeloma patients were randomly enrolled: 24 of them were assigned to receive subcutaneous immunoglobulins, and 22 were controls. The primary endpoint was the evaluation of the annual rate of severe infections in immunoglobulins-receiving patients as compared with those untreated. Subcutaneous immunoglobulins-treated patients showed a significantly lower number of severe infections per year. Adverse events were limited to the site of infusion and were easily manageable. Health-related quality of life was significantly better in subcutaneous immunoglobulins-receiving patients.

By decreasing the rate of infections, the prophylactic administration of SCIg improves both adherence to chemotherapy and health-related quality of life, and is cost-effective by reducing the need of hospitalization and the use of antibiotics.

 

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