Use of Human Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Veterinary Clinical Practice

Abstract

Therapy with human intravenous immunoglobulin (hIVIG) as an immunomodulator in veterinary patients results in effective but transient immunosuppression, and may be viable as part of a multidrug strategy against immune-mediated thrombocytopenia and autoimmune cutaneous disease. Efficacy of hIVIG against other veterinary autoimmune diseases is questionable. Veterinary patients tolerate hIVIG therapy well, with few infusion reactions documented. Veterinary clinical trials of hIVIG are limited, and more work is needed to determine the true efficacy and risk of hIVIG administration in companion animals.

Keywords: Human immunoglobulin; Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia; Immunosuppression; Veterinary autoimmune disease; hIVIG.