Open AccessClinical efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin in patients with severe inflammatory chest disease and IgG3 subclass deficiency
Author(s) -
BERNATOWSKAMATUSZKIEWICZ E.,
PAC M.,
SKOPCYNSKA H.,
PUM M.,
EIBL M. M.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1991.tb05703.x
Subject(s) - medicine , subclass , prospective cohort study , antibiotics , clinical trial , antibody , immunology , disease , gastroenterology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
SUMMARY To investigate the efficacy of i.v. IgG treatment in pediatric patients with inflammatory lung disease, a prospective, controlled clinical trial was carried out over a 2‐year study period. Patients were enrolled on the basis of severe clinical symptomatology. After 1 year of conventional treatment, the patients received 400 mg/kg per month of an i.v. IgG product containing only trace amounts of IgG3 in addition to their regular treatment throughout the second year. Significant clinical improvement, as documented by duration of hospital stay (first year 27.8 days, second year 4.9 days), use of antibiotics (132.8 versus 30.9 days) and use of steroids (21.4 versus 0.7 days) could be observed. Data obtained on a subgroup of patients with lgG3 deficiency were analysed separately. These results indicate that patients with severe chest disease who have lgG3 deficiency will also benefit from i.v. IgG treatment. The mode of action cannot be attributed to replacement of the respective isotypes, but is probably due to the effect of i.v. IgG in preventing repeated viral infections.