[Immunoglobulins in PID, SID and neurological autoimmune disease]

Human immunoglobulins (IG, mostly IgG) are used as replacement therapy in patients with inherited primary immunodeficiencies, and in patients with secondary immuno-deficiencies often observed in multiple myeloma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Ig are also approved as immunomodulatory therapy in neurological autoimmune diseases (NAID) such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN). 16 different Ig preparations for intravenous and subcutaneous use are at the moment available in Germany. The SIGNS study (Assessment of immunoglobulins in a long-term non-interventional study) investigates the clinical use of these drugs under clinical practice conditions. In this non-interventional prospective open-label cohort study, 550 patients with new or maintenance Ig therapy are observed with respect to drug utilization, effectiveness, (i. e. number of infections in PID and SID, functionality in NAID), tolerability, quality of life and costs in approximately 50 sites throughout Germany (neurologists, pediatricians, oncologists, other) for at least two years. This largest study of its kind is expected to contribute to optimization of Ig therapy in the postmarketing setting.