Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Hypogammaglobulinemiais a condition that affects your body’s ability to make immunoglobulins (Ig), or antibodies.Antibodies prompt your body’s immune system to protect you from viruses, bacteria, and other sources of illness.With fewer antibodies available, people with hypogammaglobulinemia have a much higher risk of infection and disease.
Hypogammaglobulinemia is often inherited due to genetic abnormalities.In some cases, people develop hypogammaglobulinemia due to external causes, such aschemotherapy, certain comorbid disorders (those that occur along with hypogammaglobulinemia), or the use ofimmunosuppressants. Some patients also acquire new mutations (for poorly understood reasons) that lead to the development of this condition.Treatment options include antibiotics and/or immunoglobulin replacement therapy to increase antibody levels and improve immune response.
Learn more about hypogammaglobulinemia, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options.
What Are Immunoglobulins?
Morsa Images / Getty Images
Hypogammaglobulinemia Symptoms
Hypogammaglobulinemia is an immunodeficiency disorder, which means it affects the body’s ability to prevent infection.Some people with hypogammaglobulinemia begin to experience symptoms during childhood. However, your symptoms may not show up until adulthood, typically during your 20s and 30s.
People with hypogammaglobulinemia have both an increased risk of infection and increased risk of the number of infections they get, especially:
People with untreated hypogammaglobulinemia may also experience a number of medical complications. Some complications may be serious, including:
What Is an Immunodeficiency Disorder?An immunodeficiency disorder is a condition that affects the body’s immune system, which reduces your ability to fight infections.
What Is an Immunodeficiency Disorder?
An immunodeficiency disorder is a condition that affects the body’s immune system, which reduces your ability to fight infections.
Your healthcare provider can make a diagnosis of hypogammaglobulinemia using a physical examination, an assessment of your medical history (such as a history of recurring infections), and a series of lab tests.Blood tests may reveal low levels of certain antibodies, such asimmunoglobulin G(IgG).You may also develop lower than expected levels of antibodies than expected after vaccination.
If you have secondary hypogammaglobulinemia, treating the underlying cause will help to reduce your symptoms. For example, you may experience fewer symptoms once you stop taking immunosuppressants or after your chemotherapy treatments have ended.
Treatment for primary hypogammaglobulinemia typically involves antibiotics and/or immunoglobulin therapy.
Antibiotics can help to relieve the symptoms of frequent infections. Your healthcare provider may also prescribeprophylactic antibiotics, which you can take on a consistent basis to prevent (rather than treat) infection.
Immunoglobulin replacement therapy involves regular infusions that can increase the level of antibodies in your body.This can help to improve your quality of life and prevent infection, as well as related medical complications.
Immunoglobulin infusions can be delivered intravenously (through an IV) or subcutaneously (via injection).Intravenous Ig treatment(IVIg) is usually given at the hospital, often two to four times per week for two to four hours at a time. IVIG is also given in infusion clinics in outpatient centers set up to deliver this medication. Usually, IVIG is monthly. Subcutaneous Ig treatment (SCIg) is typically delivered at home and may require more frequent doses.
Summary
Hypogammaglobulinemia is a medical condition that leads to low levels of immunoglobulins, orantibodies, in the blood. Low immunoglobulin levels reduce your body’s ability to fight off infection and prevent disease.
People with hypogammaglobulinemia frequently experience recurring respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Lung infections, sinus infections, and upper airway infections are especially common. Hypogammaglobulinemia is diagnosed with blood tests that measure immunoglobulin levels. Treatments usually involve antibiotics and immunoglobulin infusions to increase antibody levels over time.
A Word From Verywell
If you have frequent infections, you may have an immunodeficiency disorder such as hypogammaglobulinemia. If left untreated, you could experience severe medical complications. It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider as soon as possible about your treatment options.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID).MedlinePlus.Antibody.National Cancer Institute.Hypogammaglobulinemia.MedlinePlus.Immunodeficiency disorders.Pimenta FMCA, Palma SMU, Constantino-Silva RN, Grumach AS.Hypogammaglobulinemia: A diagnosis that must not be overlooked.Braz J Med Biol Res. 2019;52(10):e8926. doi:10.1590/1414-431X20198926National Cancer Institute.Immunoglobulin.Bogaert DJ, Dullaers M, Lambrecht BN, Vermaelen KY, De Baere E, Haerynck F.Genes associated with common variable immunodeficiency: One diagnosis to rule them all?.J Med Genet. 2016;53(9):575-590. doi:10.1136/jmedgenet-2015-103690Otani IM, Lehman HK, Jongco AM, et al.Practical guidance for the diagnosis and management of secondary hypogammaglobulinemia: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Primary Immunodeficiency and Altered Immune Response Committees.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022;149(5):1525-1560. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2022.01.025MedlinePlus.Immunoglobulins blood test.Jones GL, Vogt KS, Chambers D, Clowes M, Shrimpton A.What is the burden of immunoglobulin replacement therapy in adult patients with primary immunodeficiencies? A systematic review.Front Immunol. 2018;9:1308. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.01308
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID).MedlinePlus.Antibody.National Cancer Institute.Hypogammaglobulinemia.MedlinePlus.Immunodeficiency disorders.Pimenta FMCA, Palma SMU, Constantino-Silva RN, Grumach AS.Hypogammaglobulinemia: A diagnosis that must not be overlooked.Braz J Med Biol Res. 2019;52(10):e8926. doi:10.1590/1414-431X20198926National Cancer Institute.Immunoglobulin.Bogaert DJ, Dullaers M, Lambrecht BN, Vermaelen KY, De Baere E, Haerynck F.Genes associated with common variable immunodeficiency: One diagnosis to rule them all?.J Med Genet. 2016;53(9):575-590. doi:10.1136/jmedgenet-2015-103690Otani IM, Lehman HK, Jongco AM, et al.Practical guidance for the diagnosis and management of secondary hypogammaglobulinemia: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Primary Immunodeficiency and Altered Immune Response Committees.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022;149(5):1525-1560. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2022.01.025MedlinePlus.Immunoglobulins blood test.Jones GL, Vogt KS, Chambers D, Clowes M, Shrimpton A.What is the burden of immunoglobulin replacement therapy in adult patients with primary immunodeficiencies? A systematic review.Front Immunol. 2018;9:1308. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.01308
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID).MedlinePlus.Antibody.National Cancer Institute.Hypogammaglobulinemia.MedlinePlus.Immunodeficiency disorders.Pimenta FMCA, Palma SMU, Constantino-Silva RN, Grumach AS.Hypogammaglobulinemia: A diagnosis that must not be overlooked.Braz J Med Biol Res. 2019;52(10):e8926. doi:10.1590/1414-431X20198926National Cancer Institute.Immunoglobulin.Bogaert DJ, Dullaers M, Lambrecht BN, Vermaelen KY, De Baere E, Haerynck F.Genes associated with common variable immunodeficiency: One diagnosis to rule them all?.J Med Genet. 2016;53(9):575-590. doi:10.1136/jmedgenet-2015-103690Otani IM, Lehman HK, Jongco AM, et al.Practical guidance for the diagnosis and management of secondary hypogammaglobulinemia: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Primary Immunodeficiency and Altered Immune Response Committees.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022;149(5):1525-1560. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2022.01.025MedlinePlus.Immunoglobulins blood test.Jones GL, Vogt KS, Chambers D, Clowes M, Shrimpton A.What is the burden of immunoglobulin replacement therapy in adult patients with primary immunodeficiencies? A systematic review.Front Immunol. 2018;9:1308. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.01308
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID).
MedlinePlus.Antibody.
National Cancer Institute.Hypogammaglobulinemia.
MedlinePlus.Immunodeficiency disorders.
Pimenta FMCA, Palma SMU, Constantino-Silva RN, Grumach AS.Hypogammaglobulinemia: A diagnosis that must not be overlooked.Braz J Med Biol Res. 2019;52(10):e8926. doi:10.1590/1414-431X20198926
National Cancer Institute.Immunoglobulin.
Bogaert DJ, Dullaers M, Lambrecht BN, Vermaelen KY, De Baere E, Haerynck F.Genes associated with common variable immunodeficiency: One diagnosis to rule them all?.J Med Genet. 2016;53(9):575-590. doi:10.1136/jmedgenet-2015-103690
Otani IM, Lehman HK, Jongco AM, et al.Practical guidance for the diagnosis and management of secondary hypogammaglobulinemia: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Primary Immunodeficiency and Altered Immune Response Committees.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022;149(5):1525-1560. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2022.01.025
MedlinePlus.Immunoglobulins blood test.
Jones GL, Vogt KS, Chambers D, Clowes M, Shrimpton A.What is the burden of immunoglobulin replacement therapy in adult patients with primary immunodeficiencies? A systematic review.Front Immunol. 2018;9:1308. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.01308
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
