Against the Storm: High-Dose IVIG as an Immunoregulatory Treatment Strategy for Severe COVID-19
While there may be no “magic bullet” to treat cytokine storm, one widely used immunomodulatory agent in particular — polyclonal intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) purified from healthy donor plasma — is distinguished by the simple fact that it is anything but a narrowly targeted treatment.
Plasma Exchange May Slow Alzheimer’s Disease Cognitive and Functional Decline: Phase 2b/3 Clinical Study Findings
This trial suggests that plasma exchange with albumin replacement could slow cognitive and functional decline in Alzheimer’s disease, although further studies are warranted.
Lower, More Frequent Dosing of IVIG-Dependent CIDP Patients Does Not Improve Efficacy or Safety in CIDP
The investigators concluded lower, more frequent dosing does not further improve the efficacy of IVIG in stable IVIG-dependent CIDP patients, or result in fewer side effects.
The Promise of COVID-19 Hyperimmune Immune Globulin Therapy
As of this writing, NIAID and industry collaborators are also finalizing the design of a large-scale trial to assess whether COVID-Ig can reduce the rate of hospitalization and other medical encounters in earlier-stage COVID-19 patients exhibiting mild to moderate symptoms.
Infection Rates in PI Patients Decline with Increasing IVIG Dosages and IgG Trough Level
Titrating the IgG trough level up to 960 mg/dL progressively reduces the infection rate in PI patients, but there is less incremental benefit above this trough level.
Plasma Therapies: Effective COVID-19 Treatments?
Studies shed light on whether high-dose intravenous immune globulin, convalescent plasma and hyperimmune globulin will be effective therapeutic options for the novel coronavirus.
Stable and Durable Factor VIII Expression in Subjects Dosed with Investigational Hemophilia A Gene Therapy
More than two years after receiving Spark Therapeutics’ investigational adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapy (SPK-8011), five adult subjects with hemophilia A exhibited stable factor VIII (FVIII) expression, with no evidence of FVIII inhibitors or a cellular immune response.
Breakthroughs in Stem Cell Research
Optimism continues to grow about the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine highlighted by hundreds of successful clinical trials.
Large-Dose Albumin Supplementation Does Not Reduce Mortality or Need for Critical Care Interventions: Retrospective Review
Investigators conducted a retrospective review of 38 cases treated at Taipei Veterans General Hospital between January 2007 and December 2018 to determine whether more aggressive albumin supplementation can benefit major burn patients with persistent hypoalbuminemia.
Study Finds Safe Treatment for Children with Severe Hemophilia A with Inhibitors
Researchers have found combining immune tolerance induction (ITI) with Hemlibra (emicizumab, Roche) is a feasible and safe way of treating children with severe hemophilia A.
