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January 14th, 2005
Octagam® - "A Real Difference"
Smiling happily and enjoying a day out at the funfair with his family it is hard to believe that one year earlier Ethan had been labelled as "failure to thrive". Since infancy he suffered from repeated infections and high fevers and his height and weight were significantly below the growth chart.
After numerous doctors visits and endless hours of worry for his family, at the age of three, Ethan was eventually diagnosed with Primary Immune Deficiency and was commenced on IVIG therapy.
Unfortunately he suffered severe adverse reactions to IVIG. Following his first and each subsequent infusion, Ethan experienced severe migraine like headaches, vomiting and loss of appetite. Each reaction would last for 7-10 days and was only relieved by oral corticosteroids. Preventative measures including premedication with steroids, analgesics and antihistamines failed to avert these episodes of "chemical" aseptic meningitis.
According to his parents "The reactions Ethan experienced with more than one brand of IVIG left us wondering if the treatment was almost as bad as the condition. Ethan was continuing to fall below height and weight charts and was sick and listless for a week after each infusion. We knew that we needed to find a better solution".
Fortunately, Drs at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland were able to help. In the summer of 2004, his physician changed his treatment to Octagam® - Octapharma's state-of-the-art IVIG. Ethan became the first patient in the USA to receive Octagam following its May 2004 licensure by the FDA.
Since he was switched to Octagam his parents and carers, have seen major improvements. Friends and family remark all the time about how strong Ethan has become, his height and weight have increased and he now attends pre-school where teachers have remarked that he has been healthier than most of his classmates. He has had no serious illness in the 6 months he has been treated with Octagam and was even able to fight off minor colds in a couple of days.
A Real Difference
"Octagam has been a blessing for our son and family. As parents we can not thank Octapharma enough for a product that has made a real difference in our childs life" Ethan's parents |
More importantly, Ethan and his family no longer have to dread his monthly IVIG infusions or their terrible sequelae. Since commencing Octagam therapy, his only reaction has been a mild headache a couple of days after treatment which resolved quickly. Infact he tolerates the infusions so well that staff have been able to stop the premedications. Whereas before IVIG made him anorexic, since switching to Octagam his appetite has become wonderful.
Thanks to his family, medical team and Octagam Ethan looks and feels like any other four year old and can look forward to the future.
For more information on Octagam and its extensively documented tolerability please click here
© Octapharma AG, 2005
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