Home intravenous immunoglobulin therapy by self-administration.

Immunoglobulin replacement therapy is required by patients with certain antibody deficiency syndromes and is finding increasing application in other immune disorders such as immune thrombocytopenia. We describe the long-term home administration of intravenous gamma-globulin by seven patients themselves using a portable infusion pump. Over a period of as long as 2 years, this has proven to be effective, safe, and cost efficient and a good alternative to hospital or physicians' office-based infusions.