To maintain health, modern pharmacology is developing many different drugs. Some of them are of organic origin, being almost identical to those that work in a living organism. For example, the drug "Pentaglobin." Instructions for use, release form, features of its use in therapy will be discussed below.
On guard of health
The basis of the protection of the human body from various diseases is the immune system. This is a very complex structure consisting of many components. One of them are special compounds of the blood plasma protein - immunoglobulins, which are formed in response to the introduction of antigens into the body, which include viruses, bacteria, and toxins. The structure of these formations is rather complicated in itself. Immunoglobulins belong to special two-component proteins - glycoproteins. They are formed using plasma cells, which are synthesized from certain B-lymphocytes in the presence of antigens. The uniqueness of these transformations lies in the fact that each type of antigen generates its own type of immunoglobulin. In humans and other mammals, science has established five types of these fighters with antigens - IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, IgE, which differ from each other in structure, amino acid composition of heavy chains, as well as functional orientation. As written in the Pentaglobin instructions for use, it contains three types of immunoglobulins.
Pharmacological affiliation of the drug
The drug "Pentaglobin" refers to the pharmacological group of medical immunobiological preparations - globulins. This is a fairly large group of drugs, which include purified and concentrated fractions of gamma-globulin serum proteins containing high titers of antibodies. Passing the process of purification from ballast whey proteins, immunoglobulins become non-toxic, which provides a quick response and strong adhesion to antigens. Modern medical technologies make it possible to obtain guaranteed human immunoglobulin without the infectious hepatitis virus, which affects a large number of people around the world.
What works in the medicine?
What is the composition of the Pentaglobin? Immunoglobulin is the main active ingredient. The drug can be considered a multicomponent agent, because it contains human plasma proteins, and the immunoglobulins in the composition of the drug will be more than 95%. The Latin name for this substance is Immunoglobulin human normal. The composition of this drug contains three types of immunoglobulins: IgG + IgA + IgM. In 1 milliliter of the preparation "Pentaglobin 50 ml" contains the following number of antibodies:
- IgM 6 mg;
- gA 6 mg;
- IgG 38 mg.
The immunoglobulin G subclass in this preparation consists of three varieties, distributed in percentage as follows:
- IgG 1 63%;
- IgG 2 26%;
- IgG 3 4%;
- IgG 4 7%.
As auxiliary components, the composition of the drug includes:
- 27.5 mg dextrose monohydrate;
- 78 μmol of sodium ions;
- 78 μmol of chlorine ions.
Special water for injection is used in the amount necessary to obtain a solution of a certain concentration, up to 1 ml.
How does the active ingredient function?
The basic information tells about the immunomodulating drug "Pentaglobin" instructions for use. It contains immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM with an extensive set of antibodies to various pathogens of infectious diseases, as well as their toxins. It is noteworthy that more than a thousand donors produce the active component of the drug from the plasma pool. That is why the drug contains a spectrum of antibodies characteristic of a normal population.
A feature of the drug is also that it contains an increased content of IgA and IgM. This gives a positive effect in the use of the medication to combat many bacterial infections. In addition, a high concentration of Ig in the drug allows you to bring its level in the human body to normal levels.
The work of immunoglobulins is that they adhere to certain areas of bacteria, viruses or allergens, which interfere with their reproduction, and also neutralize the toxins that these antigens produce.
When administered intravenously into the human body, Pentaglobin (100 ml or another dosage) has one hundred percent bioavailability. Rapidly spreading throughout the body, antigens penetrate into all fluids, maintaining this balance for 3-5 days.
The half-life of the active component of the drug corresponds to the half-life of immunoglobulins produced by the body itself. However, the duration of the antigens may vary depending on the individual characteristics of the body. Complete utilization of immunoglobulins passes through the reticuloendothelial cells that perform barrier and phagocytic functions.
In what form is the medicine for immunity issued
The drug for modulating immunity "Pentaglobin" (10 ml or another dosage) is available only in the form of solutions for oral administration. It can be either ampoules with a volume of 10 or 20 milliliters, or bottles containing 50 or 100 milliliters of solution. The drug solution in ampoules and in vials has the same concentration of the active component - 50 milligrams of immunoglobulin per 1 milliliter of special fluid. In other pharmaceutical forms, this drug is not produced.
When is the drug prescribed
Instructions for use "Pentaglobin" describes the indications for use of the drug. These are any bacterial infections, when an antigenic drug is prescribed in addition to antibiotics, and substitution therapy used in the treatment of patients with immunodeficiencies, as well as in patients with low levels of immunoglobulins.
Each case of prescribing this drug is considered by the attending physician in accordance with the disease, its course and the state of health of the patient.
Are there any contraindications?
It would seem that medicines based on the components characteristic of the human body have no contraindications and can be prescribed to everyone. But this is far from the case. So for the Pentaglobin preparation, the instructions for use in newborns, older children and adult patients stipulate the conditions when this medicine can either not be taken at all, or should be very attentive to the state of health and well-being during the treatment period.
A strict ban on the use of Pentaglobin in therapy will be:
- hypersensitivity to any of the components of the drug;
- sensitivity to human immunoglobulin.
This warning particularly applies to patients diagnosed with antibodies against IgA and / or plasma IgA deficiency.
There is no ban on the use of the medicine by pregnant or lactating women. But since special clinical studies have not been conducted regarding the effect on the developing fetus and the newborn baby, the drug should be taken only as directed by the doctor, carefully monitoring the well-being of the woman. There are comments that immunoglobulins, falling into breast milk, and then into the baby's body, have a positive effect on the immunity of the latter.
Possible effects of the drug
All important information contains instructions for the use of "Pentaglobin." In newborn babies, children and adults, taking this medication can cause the following consequences:
- allergic reactions;
- anaphylactic shock (registered in isolated cases);
- atralgia;
- back pain of mild severity;
- hyperemia of the skin;
- headaches;
- chills;
- increase in body temperature;
- sudden drop in blood pressure;
- vomiting
- rash;
- nausea.
In rare cases, signs of aseptic meningitis, hemolytic anemia, and acute renal failure were recorded. Also, elevated serum creatinine was rarely found in blood tests. Elderly patients may experience signs of thrombosis during treatment with Pentaglobin. The same complication can be observed by those who suffer from cardiological or cerebral ischemia, hypovolemia, or who are overweight.
In many cases, coping with the side effects of this medication helps to reduce the speed of its administration or to suspend the administration of the drug until the disappearance of the unnecessary symptoms that have appeared. If, in this case, the side effects that appear are not effective on their own, then symptomatic therapy will be necessary. The development of anaphylactic shock will require a complex of anti-shock manipulations.
How to take medicine
He will explain how to properly use the Pentaglobin immunomodulator in therapy, instructions for use. For children, this medicine is prescribed according to the same scheme as for adult patients.
For newborns and infants with a diagnosed severe bacterial infection, as well as those suffering from congenital immunodeficiency or secondary antibody deficiency syndrome, the amount of drug solution is calculated based on the ratio of five milliliters per kilogram of a child’s body per day. This dosage is indicated for three days. Repeat the course, adjust the dose or stop the infusion can only be a specialist who observes a small patient.
The norm of 15 ml / kg is calculated for older children and for adults. The main age difference in the methods of using the drug is the rate of its administration. Given the mass of a newborn baby or infant, the resulting amount of the drug is injected into a vein drip for 60 minutes. For adult patients, a maximum dose of 15 ml per 1 kilogram of body can be administered within 72 hours.
The necessary ratio of the amount of the active component and the volume of the solution that is needed for the injection is achieved by diluting the drug with a 0.9% solution of sodium chloride, intended for these purposes.
The contents of opened ampoules and vials with the drug must be used immediately. If a sediment is present in the medicine, it should not be used for injections!
Some features of treatment
For such a drug that promotes the activation of the immune system, such as Pentaglobin, the instructions for use remind you of some precautions for the treatment. The occurrence of side effects in most cases depends on the speed of administration of the drug solution. That is why it is necessary to strictly calculate and observe the time and volume of the drug during the procedure. The healthcare provider must ensure that the patient is not hypersensitive or allergic to the medicine used. To do this, first the drug is administered extremely slowly. If no adverse reaction is observed, then the rate of administration is established according to the age of the patient, but monitoring of his condition does not stop both during the procedure and after some time after it. This is especially true for those people who before this procedure have never received immunoglobulin injections. A patient who is prescribed injections or droppers with a Pentaglobin immunomodulator needs to use as much water as possible, control kidney function, and exclude diuretics from the list of medications.
Drug Collaboration
As with many drugs, for Pentaglobin solution, the instruction stipulates certain conditions for its compatibility with other drugs. So, for children who need routine vaccination with live vaccines, it is necessary to calculate the period from one and a half to three months between injections, as the immunomodulator can adversely affect the effectiveness of vaccination. Moreover, for measles vaccination, this incompatibility period can be almost a whole year. If an immunomodulator course was given, then vaccination should be done only after a blood test confirming the presence of antibodies.
It should be borne in mind that calcium gluconate, which can be prescribed for infants, together with Pentaglobin can cause some undesirable reactions, the appearance of which can worsen the health of the child.
Conducting immunoglobulin therapy can affect the results of serological tests, giving false-positive results.
Are there any analogues?
One of the commonly prescribed immunomodulating drugs based on human immunoglobulin is Pentaglobin solution. The analogs and synonyms of this medication should also help the patient's immunity to work more actively. The generic of this medicine is the “Immunoglobulin Complex Preparation” (CIP), which is available as a lyophilisate for the preparation of an injection solution. The analogues are Octagam and Intratek. Only the attending physician can choose the necessary medicine for a particular patient.
What do doctors and patients say
All necessary and significant information can be given about the Pentaglobin preparation by instructions and reviews. Both doctors and patients respond to this immunomodulator as an effective way to help the immune system with many health problems in both adults and children. Doctors strongly recommend that you follow the rules and dosage of the drug, taking into account the age, body weight, characteristics of diseases and the health status of each individual patient. Absolutely all patients who have encountered such a problem as sepsis are grateful to this drug for effective help in the treatment.
How to buy and how to store the drug
You can buy a drug with a human immunoglobulin by prescription. This is an expensive medicine - a bottle of 100 milliliters costs an average of 22,000 rubles. One ampoule with a capacity of 10 milliliters is sold in pharmacies at a price of 2500-2800 rubles per unit. The drug must be stored in a cool dark place. As indicated by the Pentaglobin preparation, the air temperature should be between 2-6 degrees Celsius. Opened ampoules and vials cannot be stored - their contents must be used immediately.
A drug based on human immunoglobulin is a popular disease control tool when the immune system needs an effective help. The solution is prepared from the blood of absolutely healthy donors, while the blood plasma from which the antibodies are extracted goes through the stages of removal and inactivation of pathological elements - pathogens. Therefore, this drug is trusted by specialists and patients.