aseptic menigitis after ivig(head/neck pain/fever)

Hi Shawn,
My son had an aseptic meningitis reaction to his last infusion. Fever, total body shaking almost like convulsions, vomitting bile,SEVERE headache, neck ache, and if you put his chin to his chest, his feet would flex up. We started the flow rate at 12, 28, 50, and then the second hour they bumped it up to 115. Then everything happened. They stopped the infusion waited a couple of hours, and started again but stopped at 50 this time. He will be getting his next infusion in 32 days and the flow rate is not to exceed 50 (about a seven hour infusion). Because the hospital did not record on hard copy, only the pharmacy on the computer which deletes in three months, I do not know if Kevin recieved the same brand ivig, now that I have learned to copy lot numbers and brand names, I can keep better track of things. Besides flow rate, change in brand name is also a factor in the reaction. Since you are a Dr., I’m sure you already know that the ivig is an irritant and that is what causes the reaction. Incidentally, my son has extreme pain in the vein when the iv is administered, I was wondering if you had that as well? We did flush the iv to check if it was still good and it was. I have read some info that suggests letting the ivig get to room temperature and keep a hot pack on the iv sight to open up the veins more, lidocaine in the drip is also ann option, but some people on the forum have found a study that states lidocaine is counterproductive in aidp/cidp patients? My neuro says its ok, but why take the chance? Also, I thought I remember yourdx. being aidp, I thought I read somewhere that steriods do not have any affect on aidp patients. (I think you mentioned taking prednisone in this thread I could be-wrong) Call if you want! –

Hello Dawn I’ve got a couple questions–when Monica had her last 2 infusions it lasted 7hrs she was given the beneydrl,and a couple tylenol before it was started. The first day she felt alright just tired(as normal)and her iv spot on arm was bruised and very tender therefore they used the opposite arm the next day. That day she felt tired and looked whimped then 3 days later is when she was vomiting the bile and just layed around the house for several days. The vomiting lasted 5 days and when we mentioned it to her Neuro she told us that was normal for IvIg infusions especially since this was her first time with infusions??? Did Kevie start the fever headache and vomiting the same day? When Monica’s IvIg was administered it was room temp. Also what is the lidocaine put into his iv for,pain? I am also like you as far as reading on here somewhere that lidocaine doesn’t go with cidp and that you also need to talk to your dentist about what type of “caine” you get from them and make sure they understand about cidp…??

Dr Shawn, i had aseptic meningitis from ivig back in oct 05. my lp showed elevated everything and my count was over 400. had to go on iv antibiotics for a week i think. i did leave the hospital after 5 days, with home iv care. i had a severe headache, stiff sore neck, vomiting, paralysis and pneumonia(reasons for going to hospital). i was given 8 hours of ivig one night and just after my 2nd night of ivig ended i was off into this aseptic stuff. not fun and i can’t have tylenol or benadryl before because of allergies. no more ivig for me, might use pp if it happens again. my infectious disease dr and my other drs tell me not to have any kind of ivig again, because next time could be worse. take care.

Dr. Shawn, sorry to hear about your reaction :(, how horrible. I feel fortunate that in all my years of getting IVIG my adverse reactions, if ever, have been very mild. I keep track of the brand and lot numbers also. Each brand of IVIG is processed differently, I only get Gammaguard now because it’s the one that agrees with me the best. Here is a link that describes the different brands and additional information, it’s the best reference I have found. Not all brands are listed, just the brands this company carries, but it is good information anyway:

[COLOR=Blue]accredotx.com/ivig/ivig_list.pdf [/COLOR](cut and paste)

Hope that helps.

Jerimy

Dr. Shawn,

I have developed aseptic menengitis 2x from IVIG and had to be hospitalized both times. After the 2nd time they were skeptical to give me IVIG again. Since then I have had numerous IVIG’s with little to no side effects. We have found that running the infusion slower and with more fluids decreases the chances of the aseptic menegitis.

Emily