What is the Difference Between IVIG and Plasmapheresis

The key difference between IVIG and plasmapheresis is that intravenous immunoglobulin is a biological agent obtained through the fractionation of blood from 2,000 to 160,000 patients, while plasmapheresis is a process in which the plasma of the blood is separated from blood cells, and the plasma is replaced with another solution such as saline or albumin or the plasma is treated and then returned to the own body.

Autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system cannot identify the difference between one’s own cells and foreign cells, causing the body to mistakenly attack normal cells. In these conditions, the immune system releases proteins called autoantibodies that attack healthy cells. Therefore, both IVIG and plasmapheresis have been found to be effective disease-stabilizing therapies for patients with autoimmune diseases such as myasthenia gravis and lupus.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is IVIG
3. What is Plasmapheresis
4. Similarities – IVIG and Plasmapheresis
5. IVIG vs Plasmapheresis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – IVIG vs Plasmapheresis

What is IVIG?

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a biological agent obtained through the fractionation of blood from 2,000 to 160,000 patients. Therefore, IVIG is a product made up of antibodies that can be given intravenously. IVIG can be used normally in two situations. One situation is if a patient might need IVIG if the body does not make enough antibodies. This is called humoral immunodeficiency. In this situation, IVIG helps the patients fight against infections. The second situation is if the patient’s immune system has started attacking its own body by producing antibodies directed against its own cells. Experts believe that IVIG prevents the immune system from destroying its own cells in autoimmune diseases.

IVIG and Plasmapheresis - Side by Side Comparison

Figure 01: IVIG

IVIG is given into a vein in an infusion that usually takes one to four hours. The amount of IVIG a person needs for each dose depends on the weight as well as the reason why the person is getting the IVIG. Furthermore, most people do not experience side effects from taking IVIG, but there are some possible side effects such as headaches, chills, fever, flushing, flu-like muscle pains or joint pain, feeling tired, nausea, vomiting, and rash.

What is Plasmapheresis?

Plasmapheresis is a medical procedure in which the liquid portion of the blood called plasma is separated from blood cells, and the plasma is replaced with another solution such as saline or albumin, or the plasma is treated and then returned to the own body. The purpose of plasmapheresis is that it can be used to treat a variety of autoimmune disorders, including myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. Moreover, it can also be used to treat some complications of sickle cell disease as well as certain forms of neuropathy.

Figure 02: Plasmapheresis

Plasmapheresis carries a risk of side effects. Typically, they are rare and mild. The most common side effect is a drop in blood pressure. The other side effects include faintness, blurry vision, dizziness, feeling cold and stomach cramps, infection, blood clotting, and allergic reaction.

What are the Similarities Between IVIG and Plasmapheresis?

IVIG and plasmapheresis have been found to be effective disease-stabilizing therapies for patients with autoimmune diseases such as myasthenia gravis and lupus.
Both types need blood as the starting material.
They are very expensive.
Both are extremely important for the survival of human beings.

What is the Difference Between IVIG and Plasmapheresis?

IVIG is a biological agent obtained through the fractionation of blood from 2000 to 160000 patients. Meanwhile, plasmapheresis is a process in which the plasma of the blood is separated from blood cells and the plasma is replaced with another solution, or the plasma is treated and then returned to the own body. Thus, this is the key difference between IVIG and plasmapheresis. Furthermore, IVIG is only used for therapeutic purposes, while plasmapheresis is used for both donation and therapeutic purposes.

The below infographic presents the differences between IVIG and plasmapheresis in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – IVIG vs Plasmapheresis

IVIG and plasmapheresis have been found to be effective disease-stabilizing therapies for autoimmune diseases. Intravenous immunoglobulin is a biological agent that is obtained through the fractionation of blood from 2000 to 160000 patients, while plasmapheresis is a process in which the plasma of the blood is separated from blood cells and the plasma is replaced with another solution such as saline or albumin or the plasma is treated and then returned to the own body. So, this is the key difference between IVIG and plasmapheresis.