PIDD at a glance: know the signs and symptoms3,4

PIDD is a group of more than 450 hereditary immunodeficiency disorders caused by genetic defects that affect the immune system. People with PIDD may be more susceptible to infections, especially those caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

PIDD is a possible diagnosis for a range of symptoms5

Signs and symptoms of PIDD can vary by number and severity for each patient due to the heterogeneous nature of the disease.4,6

Antibody deficiencies are the most common type of PIDD, accounting for more than 50% of disorders.7

70% to 90% of people with PIDD worldwide remain undiagnosed4

Time to diagnosis often takes many years. Symptoms are heterogeneous and can complicate the diagnosis.4,8

The long journey to diagnosis

20 years is the average time a person goes undiagnosed8

67% of patients were not diagnosed with PIDD until ≥35 years of age8

44% of patients experienced permanent functional impairment while waiting for diagnosis9

54% of patients reported that the most common functional decline is lung function9

Patients with PIDD are up to 10 times more likely to develop lymphoma10*

*The excess relative risk of lymphoma was 10-fold in men (P<0.001) and 8-fold in women (P<0.001).10

Patients with undiagnosed PIDD may experience increased morbidity and mortality²

Living with undiagnosed PIDD adversely affects prognosis and increases patient risk for1, 2:

Chronic complications

More frequent and longer hospital stays

Psychosocial burdens

Reduced quality of life

In addition, untreated PIDD is associated with increased healthcare costs.11

A total of 490 physicians from 192 centers identified 60,364 patients with defined PIDD, of which 23.4% (14,140) required IG replacement therapy.

Annual cost per patient

Before diagnosis

$138,760

After diagnosis and start of IG therapy

$60,297

Annual Savings

$78,166

Patients left undiagnosed and untreated pay nearly 2.5x more annually than patients treated with IG therapy.11

Annual cost per patient

Before diagnosis

$138,760

After diagnosis and start of IG therapy

$60,297

Annual Savings

$78,166

Know the warning signs of PIDD13

Most common symptoms to consider for identifying a patient with PIDD12, 13

Recurrent, unusual, or difficult-to-treat ear infections

Multiple courses of antibiotics or IV antibiotics to clear infections

Two or more new sinus infections within 1 year, in the absence of allergy

Recurrent, deep abscesses of the skin or internal organs

Recurrent pneumonia, ear infections, or sinusitis

Persistent thrush or fungal infection on skin or elsewhere

Chronic diarrhea with weight loss

Infection with normally harmless tuberculosis-like bacteria

Recurrent viral infections (colds, herpes, warts, condyloma)

Swollen lymph glands or an enlarged spleen

Autoimmune disease

Family history of PIDD

Identifying PIDD

PIDD can affect multiple systems in the body. Download our guide to learn about signs and symptoms that may indicate that testing is needed.

Get diagnosis guide

Early diagnosis and treatment can alleviate and prevent long-term effects of PIDD2

Tests to confirm a PIDD diagnosis include blood tests to identify specific immune system abnormalities14:

  • Complete blood count with differential white blood cell count
  • Quantitative serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE) levels
  • Antibody titers to protein and polysaccharide vaccines

If these tests are inconclusive and clinical suspicion of an antibody deficiency remains, it may be appropriate to conduct further testing and/or seek a second opinion.14

Find out more about XEMBIFY—speak to a Sales Representative, Nurse Educator, or Medical Science Liaison.

Indication 

XEMBIFY® (immune globulin subcutaneous human–klhw) is a 20% immune globulin indicated for treatment of primary humoral immunodeficiency disease (PIDD) in patients 2 years of age and older. XEMBIFY is for subcutaneous administration only.

Important Safety Information

WARNING: THROMBOSIS 

  • Thrombosis may occur with immune globulin products, including XEMBIFY. Risk factors may include: advanced age, prolonged immobilization, estrogens, indwelling vascular catheters, hyperviscosity, and cardiovascular risk factors. Thrombosis may occur in the absence of known risk factors 
  • For patients at risk of thrombosis, administer XEMBIFY at the minimum dose and infusion rate practicable. Ensure adequate hydration in patients before administration. Monitor for signs and symptoms of thrombosis and assess blood viscosity in patients at risk of hyperviscosity

Contraindications

XEMBIFY is contraindicated in patients who have had an anaphylactic or severe systemic reaction to the administration of human immune globulin. It is contraindicated in IgA-deficient patients with antibodies against IgA and a history of hypersensitivity.

Warnings and Precautions

Hypersensitivity. Severe hypersensitivity reactions may occur with immune globulin products, including XEMBIFY. In case of hypersensitivity, discontinue infusion immediately and institute appropriate treatment. XEMBIFY contains IgA. Patients with known antibodies to IgA may have a greater risk of developing potentially severe hypersensitivity and anaphylactic reactions.

Thrombosis. Thrombosis may occur following treatment with immune globulin products, including XEMBIFY. Thrombosis may occur in the absence of known risk factors. In patients at risk, administer at the minimum dose and infusion rate practicable. Ensure adequate hydration before administration. Monitor for signs and symptoms of thrombosis and assess blood viscosity in patients at risk of hyperviscosity.

Aseptic meningitis syndrome (AMS). AMS may occur with human immune globulin treatment, including XEMBIFY. Conduct a thorough neurological exam on patients exhibiting signs and symptoms to rule out other causes of meningitis. Discontinuation of treatment has resulted in remission within several days without sequelae.

Renal dysfunction/failure. Acute renal dysfunction/failure, acute tubular necrosis, proximal tubular nephropathy, osmotic nephrosis, and death may occur with use of human immune globulin products, especially those containing sucrose. XEMBIFY does not contain sucrose. Ensure patients are not volume-depleted prior to starting infusion. In patients at risk due to preexisting renal insufficiency or predisposition to acute renal failure, assess renal function prior to the initial infusion of XEMBIFY and again at appropriate intervals thereafter. If renal function deteriorates, consider discontinuation.

Hemolysis. XEMBIFY may contain blood group antibodies that may cause a positive direct antiglobulin reaction and hemolysis. Monitor patients for clinical signs and symptoms of hemolysis. If signs and symptoms are present after infusion, perform confirmatory lab testing.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema may occur in patients following treatment with immune globulin products, including XEMBIFY. Monitor patients for pulmonary adverse reactions. If TRALI is suspected, perform appropriate tests for the presence of antineutrophil and anti-HLA antibodies in both the product and patient serum. TRALI may be managed using oxygen therapy with adequate ventilatory support.

Transmissible infectious agents. Because XEMBIFY is made from human blood, it may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents, eg, viruses, the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) agent, and, theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent. No cases of transmission of viral diseases, vCJD, or CJD have ever been associated with the use of XEMBIFY.

Interference with lab tests. After infusion of XEMBIFY, passively transferred antibodies in the patient’s blood may yield positive serological testing results, with the potential for misleading interpretation.

Adverse Reactions 

The most common adverse reactions in ≥ 5% of subjects in the clinical trial were local adverse reactions, including infusion-site erythema (redness), infusion-site pain, infusion-site swelling (puffiness), infusion-site bruising, infusion-site nodule, infusion-site pruritus (itching), infusion-site induration (firmness), infusion-site scab, infusion-site edema, and systemic reactions including cough and diarrhea.

Drug Interactions

Passive transfer of antibodies may transiently interfere with the immune responses to live attenuated virus vaccines (eg, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella).

Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information for XEMBIFY.

Terms to know

IG, immune globulin; IgA, immunoglobulin A; IgE, immunoglobulin E; IgG, immunoglobulin G; IgM, immunoglobulin M; IV, intravenous; PI, primary immunodeficiency; PIDD, primary immunodeficiency disease.

 

References

  1. Rider NL, Kutac C, Hajjar J, et al. Health-related quality of life in adult patients with common variable immunodeficiency disorders and impact of treatment. J Clin Immunol. 2017;37(5):461-475.
  2. Anderson JT, Cowan J, Condino-Neto A, Levy D, Prusty S. Health-related quality of life in primary immunodeficiencies: impact of delayed diagnosis and treatment burden. Clin Immunol. 2022;236:108931.
  3. Immune Deficiency Foundation. About primary immunodeficiencies. Immune Deficiency Foundation website. https://primaryimmune.org/understanding-primary-immunodeficiency/what-is-pi Accessed March 20, 2024.
  4. Meyts I, Bousfiha A, Duff C, et al. Primary immunodeficiencies: a decade of progress and a promising future. Front Immunol. 2021;11:625-753.
  5. Primary immunodeficiency - Symptoms & Causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/primary-immunodeficiency/symptoms-causes/syc-20376905 Accessed February 27, 2024.
  6. Sleasman JW, Lumry WR, Hussain I, et al. Immune globulin subcutaneous, human - klhw 20% for primary humoral immunodeficiency: an open-label, phase III study. Immunotherapy. 2019;11(16):1371-1386.
  7. Ballow M, Epland K, Heimall J, et al. Immune Deficiency Foundation Patient & Family Handbook for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases. 6th ed. Towson, MD: Immune Deficiency Foundation; 2019.
  8. Immune Deficiency Foundation. IDF 2017 National Patient Survey: 2017. The Fourth National Survey of Patients. March 19, 2018.
  9. Orange JS, Akhter J, Seeborg FO, Boyle M, Scalchunes C, Hernandez-Trujillo V. Pulmonologist perspectives regarding diagnosis and management of primary immunodeficiency diseases. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2016;37(6):e162-e168.
  10. Mayor PC, Eng KH, Singel KL, et al. Cancer in primary immunodeficiency diseases: cancer incidence in the United States immune deficiency network registry. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018;141(3):1028-1035.
  11. Modell V, Gee B, Lewis DB, et al. Global study of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PI)-diagnosis, treatment, and economic impact: An updated report from the Jeffrey Modell Foundation. Immunol Res. 2011;51(1):61-70.  
  12. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (AAAAI). AAAAI Website. https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-treatments/primary-immunodeficiency-disease/primary-immunodeficiency-disease-overview Accessed February 15, 2024.
  13. Jeffrey Modell Foundation Medical Advisory Board. 10 warning signs of primary immunodeficiency. Jeffrey Modell Foundation website. https://info4pi.org/library/educational-materials Accessed February 27, 2024.
  14. Costa-Carvalho BT, Grumach AS, Franco JL, et al. Attending to warning signs of primary immunodeficiency diseases across the range of clinical practice. J Clin Immunol. 2014;34(1):10-22.