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Treatment Options For AGMX

by — Last updated: 2015-07-30 in Autoimmune diseases

Table of Contents

Read on to find out more information about Agammaglobulinemia and what this disease does to the immune system.

The most common method of treating AGMX is through intravenous infusion of immunoglobulin (IVIg) every few weeks, for the rest of a person’s life. IVIg is not a cure for agammaglobulinemia, but it increases a person’s life span and quality of life. These antibodies generate passive immunity and boost the immune system. With proper treatment, the number and severity of infections a person faces is exponentially reduced.

With IVIg, a person may live a fairly healthy life. The ideal dose of human IgG antibodies in the blood should be higher than 800 mg/kg and it is based on a person’s weight and IgG blood count. Intramuscular injections (IMIg) of immunoglobulin were very common before IVIg became available, but it was less effective, more painful and has since become nearly obsolete.

Subcutaneous treatment (SCIg) is the most recent FDA approved treatment for AGMX. This type is mostly recommended in cases involving severe allergic or if a person has experienced adverse reactions to the IVIg treatment protocols.

Another common way of treating this disease is through the use of antibiotics because of all the infections a person experiences. One new revolutionary method for treating AGMX is through the use of gene therapy, which could lead to a possible cure. Gene therapy technology is still in its early stages and it could cause complications like cancer or death. However, the long-term success and any potential complications from this treatment are currently unknown.

Things To Consider

Often, serology is used to diagnose viral diseases. Because people with agammaglobulinemia have no antibodies, these types of tests always produce a negative result regardless of the person’s genuine condition. This applies to HIV tests as well. Specialized blood tests are necessary in order for there to be a proper viral diagnosis in people with AGMX.

It is not advised and it can be extremely dangerous for someone with agammaglobulinemia to receive live versions of the polio, measles, mumps and rubella vaccines. Special considerations should be given to avoid the oral live attenuated polio vaccine, because it could cause the person to develop polio.

Furthermore, it is unknown if active vaccines have any benefits for people with AGMX, because they don’t have the normal ability to maintain immunity memory due to lack of antibodies in the body.

People who have AGMX are extremely susceptible to viruses from the enterovirus, coxsackie virus, polio virus and echoviruses. These viruses can cause problems with the central nervous system including meningitis, encephalitis and even death in some cases. There is no particular hazards for people with this condition in regards to dealing with or living with pets or doing outdoor activities.

Agammaglobulinemia Prognosis

For a person who has been diagnosed with agammaglobulinemia, there are many treatment options to consider. Most often this disorder is treated using a combination of different therapies, as well as IVIg or SCIg. Because of recent developments and research breakthroughs, people with AGMX now have improved health and a better overall quality of life.

READ What Is Your Risk Of Autoimmune Disease?

You should call your physician or healthcare provider if you or your child has experienced frequent bouts of infection, have a history of agammaglobulinemia or another immunodeficiency disorder and/or if you are planning to have children. With genetic counseling offered to prospective parents, it is possible to discover if one or both are carriers of AGMX and what the chances are that the disease would be passed along to any of their potential offspring.