Living with Primary Immunodeficiency can be exhausting and isolating. You may get sick more often, stay sick longer, and feel dismissed when patterns are missed. Many people bounce between specialists and juggle insurance hurdles while searching for answers. You are not alone, and you deserve informed, compassionate care.
In this blog series, patient and advocate Kerry will share her experience and provide key information and tools for navigating Primary Immunodeficiency before and after diagnosis.
Immunoglobulin (Ig) replacement therapy is the foundation of treatment for many people with Primary Immunodeficiency. When the body cannot make enough functional antibodies, Ig replacement therapies such as Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Therapy (SCIG) can supply the Immunoglobulin G (IgG) needed to protect against infections.
Other treatments may support stability, but for many people living with Primary Immunodeficiency, Ig replacement therapy is the central therapy that reduces infections, shortens recovery time, and protects long-term health.
How Does Immunoglobulin (Ig) Replacement Therapy Work?
Ig replacement therapy provides IgG antibodies collected from carefully screened donors. These antibodies circulate through your body and help fight bacteria and viruses. Treatment is individualized based on your diagnosis, infection history, and how your immune system responds over time.
Immunoglobulin products are made from human plasma. Thousands of donors contribute to each batch, which is purified, filtered, and put through multiple viral inactivation steps to ensure safety. The final product contains concentrated IgG that can be given intravenously or subcutaneously.
Are There Different Ways of Receiving of Ig Replacement Therapy?
There are two primary forms of Ig replacement therapy, Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Therapy (SCIG). IVIG is administered into a vein by a healthcare professional every three to four weeks at an infusion center or at home. SCIG is self-administered into the fatty tissue just underneath the skin once or twice a week at home.
What Should I Expect When Starting Ig Replacement Therapy?
When starting Ig replacement therapy, you will work with your immunologist to determine the option that best fits your body and lifestyle.
Dose adjustment is a normal part of beginning Ig replacement therapy. When I started, I expected immediate stability. Instead, my dose needed multiple adjustments. My immunologist explained that this was normal. Treatment has to be matched to your immune system, your infection patterns, and how you metabolize IgG.
Over time and as my dose was right, everything changed. I had fewer infections. I recovered faster. Stability was not a single moment. It built gradually as my treatment was tuned to what my body needed.
Now, I’m sometimes amazed at how little I get sick compared to how I used to.