What is Gamma Globulin?
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Gamma globulin, also called immunoglobulin is a class of blood plasma proteins, most notably including the antibodies that help fight infections and disease. Abnormal amounts of gamma globulin can have adverse effects on health or can be indicative of disease. In medicine, gamma globulin injections are used to treat certain conditions.
Gamma globulin injections can help boost a patient's immune system temporarily, so they are sometimes administered after a patient has been exposed to a contagious illness, though this practice is less common than it once was. This type of gamma globulin injection was formerly common for measles and hepatitis A, but vaccines currently exist for both conditions. Gamma globulin injections may also be given to patients who do not produce enough antibodies on their own as the result of a genetic disorder or an acquired condition.
Gamma globulin may also be used to treat immunological diseases other than deficiencies. For example, in immunological thrombocytopenia purpura, the patient's antibodies attack his or her own platelets, interfering with the blood's ability to clot. Gamma globulin injections are useful in treating this condition, though the mechanism by which they work is not fully understood. The injections may cause the spleen to ignore signals to destroy the antibody-tagged platelets, or they may cause the malfunctioning gamma globulin to degrade at an increased rate. In any case, the extra gamma globulin counteracts the malfunctioning antibodies that attack platelets and allows the platelets to thrive.
Since antibodies are used to fight infection, an unusually high amount of gamma globulin in the body, a condition known as hypergammaglobulinemia, is often a sign of infection. A proliferation of abnormal gamma globulin, or paraproteins, is likewise a sign of immune malfunction. Diseases of the gamma globulin such as this are called gammopathy. Gammopathy in itself may not be harmful, but it may be the sign of a serious immune condition, such as AIDS, or progress to a dangerous condition, such as nerve damage or plasma cell cancer. Therefore, close monitoring is advised.
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35
Can you buy that fron CVS? - anon44871
34
could this product carry hep c virus if administered in 1970's? - anon43207
33
is there any connection between lack of some gamma globulin as a child and eventually having multiple myeloma? - anon43181
31
I have leaky gut syndrome. would gamma globulin shots help this disorder? - anon43057
30
I am a 75-year-old female that has received Gamma globulin infusions over the past 16 years. I had most of my pancreas and my spleen removed in 1989 and since then have had many sinus and lung infections. Recently when getting the infusion I had a bad reaction and ended up in the hospital for several days. This happened the last two infusions. Now my iq level is low and I need gamma but not sure if that is the right thing to do. My insurance is also giving me a hard time. - anon42741
29
Has gamma globulin ever been linked to or associated with the spread of HVC? Is GG a blood byproduct and could it be associated with HVC? I did read an article stating that GG may be associated in some cases. - anon41798
28
I contracted GBS and have now had 3 infusions of gamma globulin. is this the normal treatment for gbs? - anon41510
27
How does gamma globulin help a person who has long term neuropathy get some use back in limbs that are too numb to use? - anon39945
26
Looking for others that have A Burtons Gammuglobulin Anemia. We know that this is an X linked chromizone blood disorder. It is passed from mothers to sons. This very rare disorder runs in our family. I would be especially interested if you have roots in the Dallas/ft Worth area. My Mother is a carrier. My little brother died at age 3 (1964)from it. Althought we did not know that until 1981 when my nephew was diagnosed with it. Mother was adopted in 1937 or so in Ft Worth Tx. We need family medical history! Please respond. - anon39336
25
I was given gamma globulin with the rabies series. I went for a mammogram and the lymph nodes showed up large and white. The doctor ordered an MRI, but after discussing this
with my internist, we are delaying the MRI three weeks after the last shot. Do you know if this could be a side effect to the lymph nodes after having gg? - anon38982
24
So may questions here... any idea where the answers may be? or is it not likely to get them here? If not, what is the point of asking? - anon33378
23
I came on this site out of curiosity. I am a fifty eight year old man. For some reason,this morning, the term Gamma Globulin came into my head. I was injected with two Gama Gobulin shots while in Vietnam in 1970. At the time I was not ill. The shots were quite painful and due to the viscosity of the serum took several minutes to empty the syringe. Afterward, as the doctor had informed me prior to the shots, I was unable to walk for almost twelve hours. The injections were administered to the upper thigh area of both legs. I had always wondered what the purpose of these injections was and even though, as anyone who has ever been in the military knows, I went through numerous batteries of shots, I cannot recall a more painful situation which is probably why I recalled the name of the shot. It was administered only once and never again. I don't recall if I asked the doctor what it was for. Are the after effects I described above normal? I do remember feeling pretty good for a while after the shots were administered. - anon30435
22
Would this treatment help patients diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosis? - anon30296
21
I am 58 years old and suffer from immune deficiency diseases: I am a celiac, I have interstitial cystitis, I have the herpes simplex virus in both of my corneas, I had mononucleosis, I am very allergic to dogs, cats, dust,wood and have asthma - the different doctors that treat me say I have Immune Deficiency Disease - would gamma globulin help me improve my health? As a teenager, I received several shots of gamma globulin and would radically improve my health. I have had tests done with hematologists and I am ok. Please help me and tell me what doctor to go to get the shots!! Thank you for your help! - carcas
20
Can the Gama Goblin shot have reverse affect? I had a high temp above 104 Fh and lowered it with tylenol to 102 Fh. I took 2 more tylenol caps and waited 2 hours and my temp was still 102Fh. My heart beat was very high and my white blood cell count was very high and my liver was enlarged.2 weeks later my leg, ankles and knees started to swell with pain and I started to get some bad sinus headaches, with fatigue. So far the VA denies this and the Army never diagnosed this, but they couldn't help me because I didn't know how this all happened at once. After receiving the 2nd GG shot I started to get sick again. - anon26234
19
my friend's dr has recommended a 5 day IV gammaglobulin treatment. she has a muscular myopathy. they have not identified exactly which disease it is. can you explain the thought behind this. and what are the side effects of this treatment? thanks - friend
17
I had gamma globin anemia as and infant and received the injections for six months. Does that make it go away or can it come back? I have been undergoing numerous test to rule out ms, but the more research i do, the more i'm finding it could be related to this. - juliafec286
16
I have been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and bronchiectasis. A friend told me that his sister had bronchiectasis and after being administered gamma globulin, no longer had the disease. Is there more information about this treatment? - anon17879
15
Is there any role of gamma globulins in preoperative stage of tonsillectomy? - anon16684
14
would gamma goblin help heal a wound on my leg that has 36 staples which attached a flap of skin on the shin. I have poor circulation and nerve damage from chemotherapy. My spleen has been removed. - anon15942
13
why would gamma globulin be given to a person with MS ? - anon13869
12
I heard that gamma globulin can really help with severe asthma. is this true? My 11 year old son has had asthma since he was 1 and he is now severe. He is on numerous meds. and has to see a specialist every week or two. He is now allowed to run or play with the other kids Dr's orders. Please help. Thank you so much Lisa - anon9939
11
Hi I am Receiving gamma globlin for the fact that i dont make it, it is the third antibody in EBV I have CAEBV and will receive the treatments for the rest of my life. and it does help with mono? - anon9251
9
I have been diagnosed with diabetes 2 for 10 years. In the earlier years I was overweight. Then in the last year or so I have shown signs of cachexia, a huge loss of weight. Someone told me that this condition can be helped with gamma globulin and that I should have my gamma globulin levels checked. Have any other diabetics suddenly been able to eat anything at all and everything and still gain no weight and in fact lose weight? Did any of you benefit from gamma globulin treatments?
- michaeljsull
8
Interesting. I've been having chemotherapy for leukemia and ended up with my immune system shot to pieces. When I was in hospital a while back with a nasty chest infection they gave me gamma globulin to boost my immune system until my white blood cell count gets back up to a sensible level. - anon7047
7
I am in my 36th week of pregnancy with my 2nd child. My first was born 2 years ago with NAIT (neonatal autoimmune thrombocytopenia). I was informed today by a hematologist that I should have already begun G.G. treatment starting in my 20th week to avoid brain bleeds which can be a condition of NAIT. Although told this by a hematologist, my high risk pregnancy center advised against this because of the controversy to this kind of in-utero treatment. I cannot find a clear cut answer on whether or not I should have this treatment done over the remaining weeks of my pregnancy. - Cortlandmom
6
First I would like to say thanks for at least coming the closest to answering my question, after 3hrs+ of reading you are the first to mention the spleen in any way, and having lost mine in an auto accident in 72 at age 18 and still have not located it, but until '92 the 1st gulf war,no big deal, go get my yearly gg shot. I could crawl in, get the shot and run out, it was the wonder drug for me. I think back, why did i suffer so from asthma, with this wonder drug out there, prior to the accident sick 6-10 times a year, after the accident 0-2 times, that is till 92, so for the last 15 years same as the first 18, always sick, 3day cold for you is 3 weeks plus for me, I have been in the hospital for a week 5 times from the flu, in that time frame. I am 54 and not getting any younger. I am able to tell the difference more in the last 2 years than prior years. I just need a gg shot! and if i told you how many drs that i have seen or that I even got out of the phone book and started calling asking if they had it... I don't understand what is the problem, why cant I get the shot. - micheal
5
It also helps a class of people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) (CDC uses this terminology), also known as Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) (in US, patients rights groups prefer this nomenclature); Myalgic Encephalitis (ME) (Great Britain uses this termanology) - anon4547
4
does anyone know if this could help with breast cancer? - anon3966
3
my 8 year old daughter was just diagnosed with mono. Does this gg antibody help that? How to we help her build her strength back? - cart
2
gg has been used with exceptional results and no toxcicity w/treatment of pinkeye/adenovirus.
i've heard the adenovirus has been also been linked w/weight gain, i'm wondering if the studies' parameters included patient weight fluctuation? at present the link has been established, but no foreseeable treatment is forthcoming. hopefully, this may be a side benefit of gg therapy. - anon3449
1
So where is Gamma Globulin harvested from? If it is produced when the body is fighting infection is it taken from sick people? My son was given G.G. to prevent damage during his bout with Kawasaki Syndrome. - anon2981
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Written by
Niki Foster
Last Modified: 11 September 2009
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