Case-control study of thromboembolic events associated with IV immunoglobulin.

Serious adverse events related to IVIg treatment are unusual, and interventions can be taken to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis, congestive heart failure and renal failure. Stroke and other thromboembolic (TE) events have also been associated with IVIg administration but the risk factors are unknown. This paper investigates whether typical cardiovascular risk factors increase the risk of thromboembolic (TE) events during intravenous immunoglobulin infusion. This case-control study compares 19 patients (mean age = 71 ± 9 years) who experienced a TE event within 2 weeks of IVIg infusion with 38 age-matched controls who received IVIg without experiencing an event. No single cardiovascular risk factor increased the risk of TE event, but the risk was elevated when 2 or more cardiovascular risk factors were present (odds ratio = 1.39, 95 % CI: 0.45, 4.30) and became statistically significant when 4 or more risk factors were present (odds ratio = 10.50, 95 % CI: 1.91, 57.58). The 30 day mortality rate was high in cases (15.8 %) and controls (18.4 %) but not significantly different between the groups.