Agammaglobulinemia - Treatment

Alternative Names

Bruton's agammaglobulinemia; X-linked agammaglobulinemia

Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to reduce the number and severity of infections, and to provide genetic counseling to affected families.

Receiving immunoglobulins (IVIG) through a vein (intravenously) helps boost the immune system by providing the body with the antibodies that are decreased or missing. Routine treatment with IVIG is central to the treatment of this disorder.

Antibiotics are often needed to treat bacterial infections.

Expectations (prognosis):

Treatment with IVIG has greatly improved the health of people with agammaglobulinemia. Without treatment, most severe infections are fatal.

Complications:

Arthritis
Chronic sinus or pulmonary disease
Eczema
Intestinal malabsorption syndromes

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:

You or your child has experienced frequent infections
You have a family history of agammaglobulinemia or another immunodeficiency disorder and you are planning to have children (ask the provider about genetic counseling)

Antibodies

Reviewed last on: 5/16/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Stuart I. Henochowicz, MD, FACP, Associate CLinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Georgetown University Medical School. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Azar AE. Evaluation of the adult with suspected immunodeficiency. Am J Med. 2007;120(9):764-768.

Ballow M. Primary immunodeficiency diseases. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 271.

Morimoto Y. Immunodeficiency overview. Prim Care. 2008;35(1):159-173.

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