Intravenous immunoglobulin as adjuvant therapy for COVID-19: A case report and literature review

Flores-Oria, Carlos A; Saturno, Emilio; Ramanathan, Supriya; Martinez Castillo, Diana J; Kumar, Roshni; Ferrer, Nelson; Mossaad, Afnan; Tellez, Maria E; Jon, Cindy; Waters, Sara C; Mosquera, Ricardo A

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has infected and caused the death of an alarming number of individuals worldwide. No specific treatment has been internationally standardized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, in some cases, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been used as adjuvant treatment in critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. We report a case of a 50-year-old man with severe COVID-19 pneumonia who received 5 days course of IVIG as adjuvant therapy. Invasive respiratory support was avoided. The patient had a successful recovery and was discharged without supplemental oxygen. A high dose of IVIG may improve survival in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. In the current report, we reviewed literature on how IVIG use may improve the early stages of the disease.