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Injection preparation for treatment of Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration in dog..jpg

 SCIENCE BEHIND SARDS TREATMENT 

IVIg AND SARDS TREATMENT?

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is a treatment utilized for aggressive autoimmune diseases that do not respond well to standard immunosuppressive medications. It contains a mixture of antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, derived from the plasma of many healthy donors. These immunoglobulins are proteins that the immune system uses to control the excessive activation of immune cells and complement.

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In autoimmune diseases, IVIg can help to dampen the overactive immune response, reducing inflammation and blocking the autoantibodies that may be causing damage. Both our scientific research and the studies of other investigators indicate that autoantibodies against retinal tissue are frequently present in SARDS patients and could potentially be responsible for the acute progression of retinal damage and blindness. For more information please read our published work on the subject and listen to our scientific conference presentations.

Clinical Efficacy of IVIg in SARDS Patients: Our current efficacy rate for the treatment stands at 60% for restoring visual navigation skills in bright light, while 20-30% of patients regain near-normal daytime vision (object tracking). Typically, SARDS patients remain completely night-blind for life.
Clinical Safety of SARDS Treatment: Intravitreal IVIg injection is extremely safe. Some patients may experience mild bleeding at the injection site. More serious complications, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and soft stool, can occur due to poor tolerance of systemic immunosuppressive medication, likely resulting from stomach and gut irritation. Many SARDS dogs suffer from pancreatitis, so the status of the pancreas must be carefully monitored before and after the initiation of any systemic medications.
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