Leanne Preedy, a 34-year-old photographer from Ongar, Essex, has relied on donated blood antibodies for the past 30 years to stay alive. Diagnosed with Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) at the age of four, Leanne requires regular injections of antibodies to prevent infections that could have devastating consequences for her health. CVID is a condition characterized by low or absent levels of immunoglobulin G, the most common antibody in the blood that helps fight off infections. Without treatment, even a minor cold can lead to severe illness or even life-threatening pneumonia.
As a child, Leanne spent a significant amount of time in the hospital, often requiring oxygen and antibiotics. Today, she receives regular infusions of immunoglobulin, a medicine made from donated blood plasma, to manage her condition. In fact, Leanne is one of approximately 17,000 people in England who rely on this life-saving treatment every year. Many of these individuals, including Leanne, require immunoglobulin infusions due to other medical treatments, such as chemotherapy or organ transplants, which decrease their antibody levels and make them more susceptible to infections.
Immunoglobulin infusions are not only used to manage CVID but also for other conditions where the immune system attacks the body’s tissues, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome. In these cases, donated antibodies help counteract the harmful ones and prevent further damage to the nerves. However, the availability of immunoglobulin has been limited, with some patients having to receive smaller doses or wait longer between infusions due to shortages. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated this issue, causing a 20% drop in plasma donations and a rise in the price of immunoglobulin products.
In the UK, the supply of immunoglobulin has relied heavily on imports from the US since 1999 when the use of plasma from UK donors was banned due to the risk of transmitting Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. However, this ban was overturned in 2021 after determining that UK plasma is as safe as that from overseas. As a result, the UK is now preparing to produce its own immunoglobulin using donated plasma collected from UK donors. This development is expected to alleviate the shortages and meet 20% of England’s needs, benefiting approximately 5,600 patients who require regular infusions.
The demand for immunoglobulin has significantly increased over the years, driven by improved diagnoses of conditions that necessitate the treatment and the growing use of cancer therapies. For individuals like Leanne and her children, Ravella and Hudson, who have also been diagnosed with CVID, immunoglobulin infusions are a lifeline. They receive the treatment every few weeks, ensuring their immune systems remain strong and able to fight off infections. For Leanne, the infusions energize her and allow her to live a relatively normal life, although she still experiences periods of fatigue. However, for Hudson, the youngest of the family, his weak immune system makes him susceptible to severe illness, necessitating multiple hospital treatments.
The production of immunoglobulin from UK-donated plasma is a positive step forward, ensuring a stable and reliable supply of this life-saving treatment. It provides hope for individuals like Leanne, her children, and thousands of others who depend on immunoglobulin to survive.
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