Re: Stupid or not?*Valarie

[Guest guest]

" They cant do that, can they? I mean, its done differently, right? family

members cant donate or can they? "

Valarie -

Please don't ever be shy about asking questions. This is how we learn to take

extra special care of our pumpkins. = )

IVIg is a blood product (antibodies) -- made from plasma donations. There are

plasma donations centers all over the country. Just Google to find. I believe

that anyone can donate -- even relatives of a PIDer but there is eligibility

criteria (have to be a certain weight, not have certain infections, etc.). The

centers will determine whether or not they can use the plasma (a byproduct of

blood and blessing in our life).

The more people that donate the better chance that your child's (and all of

our childrens) particular needs will be met. For example, if only 10 people

donated (this was done in the past -- only families would donate) then you

would not get a good variety (this is key) of antibodies. Children with

Bruton's agammaglobulinemia would die young (~ 30) without the variety of

different antibodies that is collected today. If the IgG is the result of 1000

people donating their plasma then there is a better chance that the child might

be " covered " with adequate antibodies.

A crude analogy would be having a broad spectrum antibiotic (lots of people

donating) versus a narrow/selective one (only a few people donating). [As an

aside, broad spectrum antibiotics work for some PIDers without IgG/antibody

therapy but, for many, this has caused more damage than just starting IgG

therapy].

There are some forms of IgG that are selective (e.g., for varicella/chicken

pox) and are called, " hyperimmune " products (I think). There are not many of

them BUT they do exist for certain types of infections such as RSV.

I would encourage anyone that wants, and is able, to donate to do so --

regardless of whether or not they are part of the same family. [As an aside, it

is important to know that you can not use family blood for a control sample --

such as when the doc wants (1) your child's blood to test T-cells and a

(2) " normal " sample for T-cell function comparison].

Hope that helps.

(mom to 4 y.o. who is currently making a mess of bubbles in my home

and soaked...running....)

osdbmom <osdbmom@...> wrote:

In the last week, this has been the topic of conversation around here.

The IVIG I mean. Two different family members have asked(offered), if

they can donate blood to my kids should they need the IVIG. (which it

looks like theywill). They cant do that, can they? I mean, its done

differently, right? family members cant donate or can they? I mean, I

certainly wouldnt give them any more of my defective genes, most of

this mess is " my fault " anyway, but can family members or friends

donate to the specific IVIG for your child?

and dont laugh, this mess is new to me right now. Valarie with an " A "

This forum is open to parents and caregivers of children diagnosed with a

Primary Immune Deficiency. Opinions or medical advice stated here are the sole

responsibility of the poster and should not be taken as professional advice.

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