intravenous immunoglobulin

noun

variants or less commonly intravenous immune globulin
: a therapeutic preparation containing antibodies and especially IgG antibodies obtained from the pooled blood plasma of usually thousands of blood donors that is administered via a vein especially to treat immunodeficiency, autoimmune, or inflammatory conditions (such as severe combined immunodeficiency, Guillain-Barré syndrome, posttransfusion purpura, or dermatomyositis)
She was treated with steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, used to reduce the severity of infections by giving the body antibodies to protect against bacteria and viruses.
Some worry that supplies of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), which is made of blood plasma from donors, may run short if a clinical trial confirms its effectiveness at slowing the progress of Alzheimer's.Susannah Cahalan
abbreviation IVIG

Examples of intravenous immunoglobulin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The signs were clear enough for the infant’s medical team, overseen by Burns, to start her on intravenous immunoglobulin, a concoction of human antibodies often used to help many types of patients fight off infections. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2024 Yet because of the burgeoning demand for large quantities of plasma needed for products such as intravenous immunoglobulin or IVIG, today no nation has a fully voluntary blood supply. Adam Gaffney, The New Republic, 16 Aug. 2023 The trials will evaluate intravenous immunoglobulin therapy and ivabradine, a drug currently used to treat chronic heart failure in people with an elevated heart rate. Rachel Cohrs, STAT, 31 July 2023 There are several treatments for MIS-C including anti-inflammatory medications, as well as intravenous immunoglobulin, a therapy made up of antibodies to help fight infections and reduce inflammation. Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 13 July 2023 Many doctors also give the babies intravenous immunoglobulin. Erika Edwards, NBC News, 6 July 2023 So doctors at Yale New Haven Hospital chose a treatment typically aimed at autoimmune diseases, and infused the man with intravenous immunoglobulin. Nanette Asimov, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Oct. 2021 Padmanabhan, who is part of a group that has been tasked with developing guidance for doctors in the Mayo Clinic Health System, said intravenous immunoglobulin, a plasma-rich antibody infusion, should also be considered in combination with blood thinners. Erika Edwards, NBC News, 16 Apr. 2021 Patients should be given anti-clotting drugs, but not heparin, and infusions of a blood product called intravenous immunoglobulin may replace the depleted platelets. Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 19 Apr. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intravenous immunoglobulin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of intravenous immunoglobulin was in 1979

Dictionary Entries Near intravenous immunoglobulin

Cite this Entry

“Intravenous immunoglobulin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intravenous%20immunoglobulin. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

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