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. 2021 Mar 2;16:545–552. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S283832

Table 1.

Summary of Study Characteristics and Study Outcomes

Study Study Design Number of Patients IG Dosage Observation Period Outcomes
Barth 2001 (abstract only)11 Randomized control trial 28 – IG
28 - Albumin
5 mL of 16% Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) monthly 1 year No significant difference in
  • Number and duration of exacerbations

  • Change of airway resistance

  • Time to first exacerbation

  • Duration of hospitalization due to exacerbation

  • Number of proven infections


But a trend in less prednisolone use in the Ig group (p=0.1)
Cowan 20157 Retrospective longitudinal cohort 14 Did not specify but standard dosing as a replacement therapy for immunodeficiency - ~30 g/month. 1 year The incidence of AECOPD was consistently and significantly reduced in frequency from mean 4.7 (± 3.1) per patient-year before, to 0.6 (±1.0) after immunoglobulin (Ig) treatment (p=0.0001). There were twelve episodes of severe AECOPD (in seven cases) in the year prior, and one in the year of Ig treatment (p=0.016).
McCullagh 20178 Retrospective case series Total = 29 (9 Ig treatment, 13 prophylactic antibiotics, 7 no treatment) 300–600 mg/kg/4-week period every 3–4 weeks for IVIg or every 1–2 weeks for SCIg.
Antibiotic regimens: trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 1 double strength tablet twice daily alternating with doxycycline 100 mg twice daily every two weeks, or azithromycin 250–500 mg three times/week
At least one and up to 10 years before and after diagnosis and treatment initiation In those receiving Ig, there was a reduction in annual courses of steroid from 12 (4.5–12) to 0.5 (0–1.5) (p=0.031) and annual courses of rescue antibiotic from 9 (5.5–12) to 0 (0–1.5) (p=0.016). Annual acute exacerbations in this group decreased from 4 (3–5.5) to 0.5 (0–1.5) (p=0.016). Numbers were too small to see a difference in annual rates of hospital admission for AECOPD pre-treatment 1.5 (1–3) and post-treatment 0 (0–1.5) (p=0.25).