Sarah Needs a Kidney

It’s on.

On Wednesday, March 16, Sarah’s IVIG treatment kicks off. And if all goes as planned, she could have a shiny new kidney by summer’s end. Lord knows we’re all ready to get this show on the road. But as I find myself telling our story to friends and coworkers, I can’t help but get tripped up as I try to explain this whole IVIG thing. I mean, I still really don’t know what it all means. So, I did a little research.

Intravenous immunoglobin (IVIG) therapy was first adapted for use in transplantation by researchers at Cedars-Sinai—the same hospital Sarah recently transferred to—and they currently hold the U.S. patent for it, too. Pretty cool stuff.

This kind of therapy is used for transplantation in patients like my sister who have “highly sensitized” immune systems, meaning their bodies are basically on high alert when anything foreign enters it. Even when it’s something good, like a life-saving organ transplant, their body can’t tell the difference.

How does it work?

IVIG is a processed form of immunoglobulin, which are proteins naturally produced within the body that are natural defenses against invading organisms. Immunoglobulin is injected into a vein to protect the patient from infection and immune diseases.

IVIG therapy reduces HLA sensitivity by adding helpful antibodies to the patient’s bloodstream. This lowers the level of HLA antibodies and blocks their ability to attack a transplanted organ. IVIG therapy can be used successfully in both adults and children seeking kidney transplants.

Unlike many anti-rejection therapies, IVIG does not suppress the entire immune system, but actually boosts the patient’s protection against infection. (Source: Cedars-Sinai)

Simply put, IVIG will trick Sarah’s body into accepting a new organ, without jeopardizing her global immune system.

But, will it work?
As with most things in the transplant world, there are no guarantees. But, according to the team at Cedars there is about a 95 percent-97 percent success rate with this baby. As far as I’m concerned, Sarah’s got this one in the bag.