Objective To evaluate the current practice/utilization of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in paediatric patients and to determine the level of evidences supporting IVIG use in such patients. Method A retrospective, evidence-based evaluation of IVIG use in paediatric patients. It consists of (1) retrospective chart review of paediatric patients received IVIG at Hamad General Hospital (HGH) in Qatar during year of 2014, (2) evidence-based evaluation of indications for which IVIG had been prescribed using the levelling and grading system of Oxford Center of Evidence-Based Medicine. Results A total of 348 IVIG prescriptions had been written for paediatric patients during the study period. The amount of IVIG consumed was 5.5 kg with an estimated cost of $0.27 million (~QR 1 million). IVIG was prescribed for 16 distinct diagnoses. Prescriptions for Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-labelled indications were count for 77.3% (269/348) of total prescriptions. For the non-FDA indications, the most common prescribing specialties were neurology (35.4%, 28/79), cardiothoracic/cardiology (16.5%, 13/79) and rheumatology (16.5%, 13/79). The majority of non-FDA-approved indications were supported by evidences with different grades, mainly grade C (60.8%, 48/79). Conclusion A significant amount of IVIG was prescribed for approved indications. Strategies to optimize IVIG utilization should be initiated to minimize inappropriate use of IVIG for low-evidence indications.
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