THE USE OF GAMMA GLOBULIN FROM LARGE POOLS OF ADULT BLOOD PLASMA IN CERTAIN INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Abstract

Certain virus diseases which usually produce permanent immunity in the human host also produce antibodies of a fairly constant titer in the [gamma] globulin obtained by fractionation of large pools (2-3000) of human plasma. There is conclusive evidence in measles and mumps and suggestive evidence in infectious (epidemic) hepatitis and poliomyelitis that the decreasing frequency of frank clinical cases of these diseases in the order mentioned is reciprocally related to the frequency of sub-clinical or inapparent cases, with the resultant appearance of a fairly constant titer of antibodies in the [gamma] globulin from large pools of human plasma. Increasing evidence suggests that rubella may be included in this group of diseases in a position midway between measles and mumps. Gamma globulin even in relatively small amts. is protective against measles, infectious (epidemic) hepatitis, and possibly rubella, and probably in large amts. against mumps. While in animals 7 globulin may be protective against certain strains of poliomyelitis virus, its value for passive protection against human poliomyelitis is not yet known.