Anaphylactic Reactions after Gamma Globulin Administration in Patients with Hypogammaglobulinemia

VYAS and co-workers 1 were the first to identify anti-IgA antibodies as the cause of anaphylactic reactions to human blood products in patients with selective IgA deficiency. Other reports of anaphylaxis due to anti-IgA antibodies soon followed, 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 including several reports of anaphylactic reactions in patients with common variable immunodeficiency. 3 4 5 6 7 8 , 11 Although such patients have severe defects in antibody production, they often retain the ability to produce autoantibodies. Gamma globulin replacement is essential in the management of hypogammaglobulinemia, 6 in contrast to selective IgA deficiency. Therefore, it is important to find ways to circumvent these life-threatening anaphylactic reactions and to provide adequate replacement therapy. . . .