Immunoglobulin testing

[Jaha]

Does anyone's doctor order an IgG blood test before RTX treatments? Also do they order them on a regular basis? If they do order them on you, what do they do with you if it turns out to be low?
I have never had this done in the four years that I have had RTX infusions. In order to have the RTX done closer to home, I had gone to another Rheumy other than my Wegs specialist. The new Rheumy will not do the RTX until my #'s come up. He says it would not be good for me, because of the risk of a bad infection coming on after the infusion. I talked to my Wegs specialist and she says that it is more important for me to have the RTX, since it was supposed to be done in August and I am having symptoms of a flare. So she made me go back up on my preds and I am now getting the run around from her office on getting it scheduled.
I am just wondering if anyone has had a problem with low IgG and what they were told about having the RTX infusions at that time. :confused1:

[MaxD]

Best to have the Wegs expert talk directly with your local rheumatologist and straighten him/her out. To your point, I have had the Immunoglobulin tests done every 3 months for the past year. One of the readings was below the low level of the normal range, but not enough to worry the doctors. But if it is much lower, I'm sure they would consider delaying a maintenance dose. Good luck, and hope you get this sorted out soon.

[Pete]

Hey Jana, I just discovered that Cleveland Clinic has a satellite infusion center in Mansfield. I'm going to ask Dr. Villa Forte if she can order my rtx to be delivered there next time. From my first visit to OSU this year until I got rtx, it was three months because of misplaced communications.

Don't know if Mansfield would be any more convenient for you though.