Can Intravenous Human Immunoglobulins Reduce Mortality in Patients with (Septic) Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is most commonly caused by sepsis and septic shock and it is associated with high mortality. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy has been used for many years as replacement therapy in primary immunodeficiency disorders and has more recently been proposed to be beneficial in sepsis and septic shock. Many studies have been conducted in order to test this hypothesis. However, the results of clinical trials are conflicting and there is a high degree of heterogeneity among studies. We have reviewed the available literature, and we conclude that the current evidence to recommend IVIG therapy to reduce mortality in septic patients with AKI is limited.