INTRAVENOUS IMMUNOGLOBULIN THERAPY FOR ANTIBODY DEFICIENCY

Abstract

Twenty patients with antibody deficiency were treated at random with i.m. immune serum globulin (ISG) or i.v. modified immune serum globulin (M-ISG). Fourteen patients received 259 M-ISG infusions during 242 mo. of treatment. Catastrophic vasomotor reactions were not observed. A single dose of 150 mg/k M-ISG increased serum Ig[immunoglobulin]G values a mean 248 mg%. I.v. M-ISG therapy was effective in reducing the incidence of acute infections. Subjects receiving M-ISG developed 0.103 acute infections/mo. of treatment. Patients injected with ISG had 0.295 acute infections/mo. of treatment. Seven subjects had separate courses of i.v. M-ISG and i.m. ISG. Acute infections per month of treatment for M-ISG and ISG were 0.104 and 0.406, respectively.