The shifting paradigm of clinical uses of immunoglobulin in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of a developing country

Background: Immunoglobulin is lifesaving and is the sole treatment option for certain diseases like primary immunodeficiencies. As it is an expensive therapeutic choice and has various potential harmful effects, its use should be carefully considered.

Objectives: To determine the changing pattern of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) use based on level of evidence, clinical indications and adverse effects in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a developing country.

Method: The study was carried out in the PICU of Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences over a period of six years. All children aged from 1 month to 14 years who received IVIG during their PICU stay were included.

Results: During the study period 61 children admitted to our PICU received IVIG for various indications. The use of IVIG in the low evidence category was as high as 41% in this study.

Conclusions: In this study IVIG was used in 41% patients who belonged to the low evidence category.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2019; 48(4): 334-337