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- General: There is currently no cure for complement deficiencies. Instead, patients receive medications called antimicrobials for infections and/or drugs called immunosuppressants for autoimmune disorders. If the complement deficiency develops as a result of another medical condition, such as liver disease, the disorder will be cured once the underlying cause is treated.
- Patients should tell their healthcare providers if they are taking any drugs (prescription or over–the–counter), herbs, or supplements because they may interact with treatments. Also, patients should take medications exactly as prescribed by their doctors. If antimicrobials are discontinued too quickly, the infection may return.
- Antimicrobials: Antimicrobial medications are used to treat infections commonly associated with complement deficiencies. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. Antifungals are used to treat fungal infections. Antivirals are used to treat viral infections. Depending on the type and severity of the condition, these drugs may be applied to the skin, injected into a vein, or taken by mouth. The length of treatment and specific dosages also depend on the type and severity of the infection.
- Immunosuppressants: Patients who have autoimmune disorders receive immunosuppressants, such as azathioprine (Imuran ® or Azasan ®). These medications help reduce the immune response against normal body tissue. This treatment helps reduce symptoms of autoimmunity and helps prevent the immune system from damaging organs. The lowest effective dose should be used because immunosuppressants further weaken the body's immune system, making the patient even more vulnerable to infections.
- Intravenous immunoglobulin transfusion (IVIG): Intravenous immunoglobulin transfusion (IVIG) has been used to control the autoimmune process and to boost the body's ability to fight disease. IVIG is made of antibodies extracted from pooled blood donations from hundreds to thousands of donors. IVIG, such as Gamimune N ®, Gammagard S/D ®, or Sandoglobulin ®, is typically injected into the patient's vein for about two to four hours a day for two to seven days. The patient usually receives another single dose every 10–21 days or every three to four weeks, depending on the severity of the condition.
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