Immunoglobulin Therapy in Transfusion Medicine
Program Code: 9116-S
Saturday, October 24, 2009
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM (ET)

MODERATOR
Alan H. Lazarus, PhD, Canadian Blood Services

SPEAKERS
Jay H. Herman, MD, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
James Bussel, MD, Weill Cornell Medical College
Joseph Balthasar, PhD, University of Buffalo

DESCRIPTION
Plasma used to produce immunoglobulins for clinical use is a limited resource. In the case of IVIG, clinical studies are currently underway evaluating the use of IVIG in new indications such as Alzheimer's disease. If it is found that IVIG is helpful in this disease as well as other new diseases/indications where IVIG is currently being evaluated, the ability to keep up with the demand for plasma will be challenging at best. In this session, speakers will educate the attendees on the pharmacology and mechanisms of action of IVIG in the diseases where it is used with an emphasis on ITP. They will present data from recent clinical studies outlining which diseases are the most useful to treat with IVIG versus those that would perhaps derive more benefit from some other form of therapy. Finally, as a plasma-independent form of immunoglobulin therapy,they will compare and contrast the use of anti-CD20 and/or other recombinant immunoglobulin products in diseases were IVIG is beneficial with an emphasis on recent findings in ITP.