Intravenous immune globulin for the prevention of bacterial infections in children with symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection

Article Abstract:

Children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus are at great risk for bacterial infections. It has now been shown that intravenous immune globulins can augment the child's own meager antibodies and provide greater freedom from bacterial infection. Immune globulins are antibodies purified from human blood. Since at least 1,000 donors provide the blood from which the immune globulins are purified, these antibodies invariably represent a wide spectrum of reactivity which includes virtually all common bacterial pathogens. In a study involving 372 HIV-infected children who received either monthly intravenous injections of immune globulins or a placebo, patients with a count of CD4-positive T cells greater than 200 per cubic millimeter did benefit from receiving the intravenous infusion of antibodies. Sixty-seven percent of these patients treated with immune globulins were free of serious bacterial infection for 24 months, in contrast with 48 percent of the children who received only placebo treatment. However, children with CD4 counts under 200, which represents more advanced disease, did not benefit from the treatment. While the study demonstrates that intravenous immune globulins provide greater freedom from bacterial infection for children infected with HIV, the treatment had no effect on the overall survival of the children. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Prevention, HIV infection in children, Pediatric HIV infections, Bacterial infections

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A randomized trial comparing intravenous immune globulin and plasma exchange in Guillain-Barre syndrome

Article Abstract:

Intravenous immune globulin (IIG) antibodies may be as effective as plasma exchange for the treatment of patients with acute Guillain-Barre syndrome. Guillain-Barre syndrome is a neurological disorder that can cause paralysis. Of 147 patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome, 74 were treated with five doses of immune globulin, and 73 were treated with five plasma exchange treatments. Fifty-three percent of the patients treated with IIG experienced an increase in strength, compared to 34% of the patients treated with plasma exchange. The average time before experiencing an increase in strength was 27 days for the patients in the IIG group, and 41 days for patients in the plasma exchange group. Patients treated with immune globulin therapy had 39 complications, compared with 68 complications in the plasma exchange group. Fewer patients receiving IIG required assistance breathing from a mechanical ventilator.

Guillain-Barre syndrome, Plasma exchange (Therapeutics)

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