IVIG treatment for HLA sensitivity

KGO San Fransisco reports on using intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) to treat people who are waiting for a kidney transplant but are broadly sensitized to HLA antigens, Kidney treatment could save thousands.

The KGO report wrongly describes IVIG therapy as a surgical procedure, it is actually a blood product administered intravenously. The primary use of IVIG is as a treatment for infections, immune disorders/ autoimmune diseases. I imagine it was serendipity that found its application as a way to decrease HLA sensitivity. eMedicine reports:

Cedars Sinai Medical Center developed a protocol using high-dose (2 mg/kg) IVIG to desensitize transplantation patients who are broadly sensitized to HLA antigens.
...
results suggest that in many cases, high-dose IVIG treatment can neutralize or mitigate antibody responses to eliminate positive donor-specific crossmatches and permit transplantation of broadly sensitized patients, and they suggest a means to successfully treat antibody-mediated rejection.

It's fairly common on the CKD discussion boards and CKD listservs to read about people with HLA sensitivity but this is the first time I've heard of IVIG as a treatment.

Comments

[Soraya]

You are right that the reporter introducing the story wrongly describes it as a surgical procedure and since the story was about ME I was annoyed when I first heard that :) The reporter in the story does correctly discuss IVIG :) I can only hope that the story gives people hope, as it did me. IVIG has been medicare approved (in CA) for 4 years now. It has already helped hundreds (from the number I've heard) and it could potentially help 30% of the people on the waiting list for cadaver kidneys plus the countless people, like myself who'd been given NO HOPE by their doctors.
Thank you for posting your comments and the link here on your site. I'd love to be of help in anyway to continue to the word out, or answer questions.
Soraya

[Bill Peckham]

Thank you Soraya for the advocacy work you and your mom are doing. It sounds like life with your mom's kidney is going well - but if you've looked around this site at all you know that my message is dialysis works - you just need enough of it.

If I had talked to you before your transplant and heard how you felt wiped out all the time, I would have asked if you had considered daily nocturnal dialysis.

It takes time and effort to selfdialyze at home most nights but it makes the hours not on dialysis pretty close to what you're feeling living with a transplant.

Have you thought about blogging about your advocacy experience? Let me know if you start one so I can track it.

Cheers,
Bill

[dialysis]

I won't argue that dialysis keeps you alive :)
BUT transplant, in the long term, for most people who are otherwise healthy, is the better option. You know dialysis only cleans your blood of 60% of the toxins, right? That means 40% are still INSIDE YOU, where they shouldn't be. I post stuff all over the place, but no I don't have my own blog. If I start one I'll let you know. You can check out my website sevenluckystars.com to see more of my story. I hope you continue to do well. Are you planning on a transplant at some point?
Soraya