ASCIA Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) Infusion Guidelines provide standardised infusion rates for both 5% and 10% IVIg solutions, regardless of product. These have been developed to avoid confusion, as individual IVIg products recommend different weight-based rates of infusion.

ASCIA IVIg Infusion Guidelines have been updated in April 2023 and are available at www.allergy.org.au/hp/papers/ascia-guidelines-for-standardised-ivig-infusion-rates-for-irt 

The updates include:

• Details about Privigen AU^® (CSL Behring), which will replace Intragam^® 10 when it is phased out in 2023.
• Details about Flebogamma^® 10% (Grifols), Gamunex^® (Grifols), Kiovig^® (Takeda) and Octagam^® 10%  (Octapharm).
• Addition of ‘A reduction in maximum infusion rate may be required if post infusion symptoms such as headache or myalgia occur’ to the guide to follow when adverse reactions occur.
• Amendment of 3 ml/kg/hour to 6 ml/kg/hour under ‘Subsequent Infusions’.

The rates that are recommended in the ASCIA Guidelines are generally well tolerated and are for patients with immune deficiency on replacement IVIg therapy. Patients using IVIg for other conditions such as Kawasaki disease or immunomodulation should follow local protocols.

This news item was issued on 14 April 2023 by Jill Smith, CEO of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA). ASCIA is the peak professional body for clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand.