Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Therapy in Myasthenia Gravis Exacerbation

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is caused by an immune attack on the nerve and muscles junctions and manifests as severe and sometimes life threatening muscle weakness. A number of effective immune modifying medications are available for MG. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) a fraction of blood harvested from thousands of donors and containing high concentration of immunoglobulins, is a highly efficacious therapy for MG. Unlike some other therapies, response to IVIG is quick and therefore commonly used in MG patients in whom rapid response is needed. Recently, a highly concentrated form of IVIG has become available that can be given under the skin i.e. subcutaneously (SCIG), which may have several potential advantages over IVIG. Our center is currently leading a clinical trial designed to optimize the use of SCIG in MG patients. The purpose of this study is to further explore various biological characteristics of SCIG that determine its efficacy, response duration and adverse effects in MG patients. Our findings would also be applicable to several other immune mediated diseases of nerves and muscles, which are treated with immunoglobulin therapy.

Faculty Supervisor:

Zaeem Siddiqi

Student:

Derrick Blackmore

Partner:

CSL Behring Canada

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

University of Alberta