Intravenous Gamma Globulin

Abstract

Two types of enzymatically digested human gamma-globulin preparations, a pepsin digest and a plasmin digest, were administered to six normal persons and to six patients with agammaglobulinemia. No untoward reactions were observed. The fate of the injected material was observed by serial measurement of gamma globulin and its fragments in plasma and urine. The pepsin digest, consisting principally of an F(ab′)₂S 5 fragment, had a half-time of disappearance of 10 to 14 hours. The plasmin digest, consisting mainly of an S 6.5 fragment, had a much longer half-time of disappearance: 18 to 20 days. On theoretical grounds, therefore, plasmin-digested gamma globulin appears suitable for the establishment and maintenance of passive immunity to prevent infection in agammaglobulinemic patients. It deserves further study to assess its effectiveness and safety.