| Literature DB >> 33545966 |
Chunmei Ye1,2, Juan Liu3, Xiaolu Song4, Sujie Zheng2, Jinlin Liu1,2.
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Unlike Western countries, there are still few clinical immunology specialists in China, and the optimal care for secondary immunodeficiency caused by hematological malignancies is unknown. Therefore, we initiated this clinician survey study to describe the current situation of the care for malignancy patients with hypogammaglobulinemia in China.We adapted a previously published online questionnaire of current clinical practices regarding the management of secondary immunodeficiency caused by hematological malignancies and then distributed the questionnaire to 52 hematologists in China via WeChat mobile software; the survey collected demographic details, starting dosage, target immunoglobulin (Ig) level, monitoring, criteria for stopping Ig replacement, vaccination use, and oral antibiotic prophylaxis for hypogammaglobulinemia patients.Forty-eight hematologists responded. 28(58.33%) respondents had more than 10 years of experience. Nevertheless, 40(83.33%) respondents reported that they did not use any specific criteria for prophylactic Ig replacement in hypogammaglobulinemia patients. However, 27(56.25%) respondents reported that they had used intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG); however, the starting dose, frequency, and target Ig level were significantly varied. Additionally, the criteria for stopping Ig replacement were significantly varied. Only one respondent (2.08%) used subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG). Moreover, 35(72.92%) respondents reported no vaccination prior to Ig replacement, and 47(97.92%) respondents reported that they had not used antibiotic prophylaxis in secondary hypogammaglobulinemia patients.Official guideline for the care for secondary immunodeficiency (SID) of the hematological malignancies patients should be issued in China, and significant attention of the hematologists should be paid to the use of prophylactic antibiotics and Ig replacement for the care of patients with hypogammaglobulinemia caused by hematological malignancies, as these agents could significantly reduce the infection rate in China.Entities:
Mesh:
Substances:
Year: 2021 PMID: 33545966 PMCID: PMC7837821 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000023935
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) ISSN: 0025-7974 Impact factor: 1.889
Characteristics of respondents.
| Characteristics | N (%) |
| Position | |
| Professor of hematologist | 20 (41.67) |
| Hematologist-in-charge | 23 (47.92) |
| Hematologist | 4 (8.33) |
| Trainee in hematology | 0 (0) |
| Clinical fellow in hematology | 0 (0) |
| Specialist nurse | 0 (0) |
| Other specialty or role | 1 (2.08) |
| Practicing years | |
| Less than 10 years | 20 (41.67) |
| 11–20 years | 25 (52.08) |
| 21–30 years | 2 (4.17) |
| More than 30 years | 1 (2.08) |
| Location | |
| Zhejiang Province | 26 (54.17) |
| Shandong Province | 9 (18.75) |
| Hebei Province | 7 (14.58) |
| Heilongjiang Province | 2 (4.17) |
| Hainan Province | 1 (2.08) |
| Henan Province | 1 (2.08) |
| Jiangsu Province | 1 (2.08) |
| Jiangxi Province | 1 (2.08) |
| Practice type | |
| Mainly public | 47 (97.72) |
| Mainly private | 1 (2.08) |
| Evenly split public and private | 0 (0) |
Answers refer to the time and frequency of IgG levels monitor, and management for the hypogammaglobulinemia patients.
| Question | Answers | N (%) |
| When would you typically check IgG levels in a patient with CLL? | At diagnosis | 18 (37.50) |
| At treatment initiation | 3 (6.25) | |
| Regularly (e.g., every 3 months or annually) | 22 (45.83) | |
| If an infectious complication arises | 1 (2.08) | |
| Never or rarely | 1 (2.08) | |
| I do not manage patients with CLL | 1 (2.08) | |
| Other (please specify) | 2 (4.17) | |
| Do you routinely check uninvolved immunoglobulin subtypes in your patients with myeloma to look for hypogammaglobulinemia? | Routinely, on a regular basis (e.g., every 3 months or annually) | 33 (68.75) |
| Routinely, at diagnosis only | 3 (6.25) | |
| Only in the event of an infectious complication | 2 (4.17) | |
| Never or rarely | 6 (12.50) | |
| I do not manage patients with myeloma | 1 (2.08) | |
| Other (please specify) | 1 (2.08) | |
| What treatments do you use to prevent infections in secondary hypogammaglobulinemia? (check all that apply) | Intravenous immunoglobulin replacement | 34 (70.83) |
| Subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement | 1 (2.08) | |
| Pneumococcal vaccination | 1 (2.08) | |
| Prophylactic antibiotics | 5 (10.42) | |
| None | 10 (20.83) | |
| Other (please specify) | 0 (0) |
CLL = chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Answers refer to IVIG treatment policy and criteria.
| Question | Answers | N (%) |
| How many hematology patients in your hospital do you estimate are currently receiving prophylactic immunoglobulin for secondary hypogammaglobulinemia? | 0–20 | 40 (83.33) |
| 21–50 | 7 (14.58) | |
| 51–100 | 1 (2.08) | |
| >100 | 0 (0) | |
| Does your hospital have a policy for the use of immunoglobulin replacement in hematological malignancies? | Yes | 13 (27.08) |
| No | 26 (54.17) | |
| I don’t know | 7 (14.58) | |
| Other | 2 (4.17) | |
| At your hospital, do you have to apply to any of the following to access Ig replacement? | Hospital or medical insurance | 25 (52.08) |
| Department of pharmacy | 9 (18.75) | |
| Blood Service clinician | 2 (4.17) | |
| Multidisciplinary or departmental meeting | 4 (8.33) | |
| None of the above | 11 (22.92) | |
| I don’t know | 7 (14.58) | |
| Other | 5 (10.42) | |
| Which formal criteria do you use to select patients for prophylactic Ig replacement? | No specific criteria | 40 (83.33) |
| Other | 8 (16.67) |
Answers refer to target Ig level, monitor, and stop of Ig replacement.
| Question | Answers | N (%) |
| Do you routinely start Ig replacement for patients with isolated low serum IgG level who do not have a history of recurrent or severe infection? | No | 31 (64.58) |
| Yes, if IgG below lower limit of reference | 13 (27.08) | |
| Yes, only if total IgG < 4 g/L | 2 (4.17) | |
| Yes, in selected patients | 2 (4.17) | |
| Do you use intravenous Ig replacement? | No, I do not use IVIG | 21 (43.75) |
| Yes | 27 (56.25) | |
| Do you use subcutaneous Ig replacement? | No, I do not use SCIg | 44 (91.67) |
| Yes | 4 (8.33) | |
| Do you monitor IgG levels during Ig replacement, and if so, how often? | No | 11 (22.92) |
| Opportunistically (e.g., only if infections arise) | 16 (33.33) | |
| Every month (or more frequently) | 10 (20.83) | |
| Every 2–6 months | 6 (12.50) | |
| Annually | 0 (0) | |
| I don’t know | 2 (4.17) | |
| Other | 3 (6.25) | |
| What serum Ig level do you aim for, for IV Ig replacement? | I don’t know | 9 (18.70) |
| Lower than 6 g/L | 6 (12.50) | |
| 6–15 g/L | 9 (18.70) | |
| Higher than 15 g/L | 16 (33.30) | |
| Within normal reference range | 8 (16.70) | |
| Do you use IgG levels to adjust the Ig replacement dose? | No | 42 (87.50) |
| Yes | 6 (12.50) | |
| When do you stop Ig replacement? | I do not stop Ig replacement unless adverse events occur | 11 (22.92) |
| After a fixed duration of treatment | 30 (62.50) | |
| Other | 10 (20.83) |
Note: Ig = immunoglobulin, IVIG = intravenous immunoglobulin, SCIG = subcutaneous immunoglobulin.
Answers on the usage of vaccination and oral antibiotic prophylaxis.
| Question | Yes | No |
| Do you routinely vaccinate patients with secondary hypogammaglobulinemia? | 13 (27.08%) | 35 (72.92%) |
| Do you use oral antibiotic prophylaxis in secondary hypogammaglobulinemia? | 1 (2.08%) | 47 (97.92%) |
| Do you give a trial of oral antibiotic prophylaxis before commencing intravenous immunoglobulin replacement? | 4 (8.34%) | 44 (91.67%) |
| Do you routinely give CLL patients cotrimoxazole for PJP prophylaxis? | 14 (29.17%) | 34 (70.83%) |
| Do you routinely give multiple myeloma patients cotrimoxazole for PJP prophylaxis? | 12 (25%) | 36 (75%) |
CLL = chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, PJP = Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia.
Recommended guidelines on immunoglobulin use.
| Number | Country | Issue time | Organization | Guidelines |
| 1 | USA | 2008 | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Food and Drug Administration; Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research | Guidance for IndustrySafety, Efficacy, and Pharmacokinetic Studies to Support Marketing of Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human) as Replacement Therapy for Primary Humoral Immunodeficiency |
| 2 | UK | 2019 | Department of Health | Updated Commissioning Criteria for the use of therapeutic immunoglobulin (Ig) in immunology, haematology, neurology, and infectious diseases in England, November 2019 chrome-extension://cdonnmffkdaoajfknoeeecmchibpmkmg/static/pdf/web/viewer. html?file= http%3A%2F%2Figd.mdsas.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FNHSE_Commissioning_Criteria_for_the_use_of_Ig_V1.4_November_2019.pdf |
| 3 | Australia | 2012 | National blood authority | Criteria for the clinical use of intravenous immunoglobulin in Australia |
| 4 | European | 2018 | European Medicines Agency | Guideline on core SmPC for normal human immunoglobulin for intravenous administration (IVIg) |
| 5 | China | 2016 | Comment on the lack of guidelines in China and comparative study of clinical guidelines for intravenous immunoglobulin in western countries |