Introduction: Several studies have shown that facilitated subcutaneous immunoglobulin (fSCIg) is as good as Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) and conventional subcutaneous immunoglobulin (cSCIg) in preventing infections in innate errors of immunity (IEI). The objective is to describe the follow-up of 20 patients with fSCIg treatment in the last 15 months in a single center in Argentina.
Methods: We reviewed the clinical history of patients with fSCIg treatment in our center from April 2022 to August 2023.
Results: 20 patients (p) were included, with the following diagnoses: Common variable immunodeficiency 7p, primary hypogammaglobulinemia 4p, specific antibody deficiency with normal Ig levels and normal B cells 4p, IgG subclass deficiency 1p, hypogammaglobulinemia with specific antibody deficiency 1p, specific antibody deficiency and Mediterranean familiar fever 1p, specific antibody deficiency with IgA deficiency 1p and Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome 1 p. Mean age: 21.5 yo (range 2.1 – 66.7). The mean time of follow-up with fSCIg was 6 months (range 1 – 15).
The mean dose was 575.7 mg/kg/month (range 333 – 1000).
The mean serum IgG level was 1387.4 mg/dl (range 558 – 3347).
The annual rate of infection was 0,02 infections/patient/year (2 bronchitis, 1 pneumonia, 1 giardiasis and 1 bilateral parotitis) and the patients did not present infections that required hospital admissions.
Tolerance: 3 patients (12.5%) reported local symptoms (pain, edema, pruritus) that lasted less than 24 hours and did not require specific treatment. 3 patients reported systemic adverse reactions (headache, fever) only during the first infusions.
Conclusion: fSCIg therapy is safe and effective for replacement treatment in patients with IEI. Further systemic clinical studies are needed to better define the optimal dosage and application intervals of fSCIg.