Is there a role for oral human immunoglobulin in the treatment for norovirus enteritis in immunocompromised patients?

Florescu DF, Hermsen ED, Kwon JY, Gumeel D, Grant WJ, Mercer DF, Kalil AC. Is there a role for oral human immunoglobulin in the treatment for norovirus enteritis in immunocompromised patients? Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: 718–721. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract:  No treatment for NVE is available. Immunocompromised patients with NVE treated with OHIG (12 cases) were retrospectively identified and matched 1:1 by age and gender with immunocompromised patients with NVE not treated with OHIG (12 controls). Chi–squared test, t ‐test, bivariate conditional linear regression analyses, and Kaplan–Meier curve were performed. A total of 58.3% patients were small bowel transplant (SBT) recipients. Although not statistically significant, cases compared with controls were more likely to have had induction therapy (p = 0.25, OR = 65.3), higher peak tacrolimus levels (p = 0.43, OR = 1.04), SBT (p = 0.30, OR = 65.3), prior NVE (p = 0.42, OR = 2.0), TPN support (p = 0.42 OR = 2.0), and decrease in immunosuppression (p = 0.14, OR = 5.0). Treatment with OHIG favored resolution of diarrhea (p = 0.078, OR = 65.3) and decreased stool output seven days after treatment compared with controls (mean difference 11.95 mL/kg/day, p = 0.09). OHIG did not impact total time to resolution of diarrhea (mean 12.08 vs. 11.91 days; p = 0.63), length of hospital stay (p = 0.31, OR = 1.05), or cost of hospitalization (p = 0.32, OR = 1.0). We show a potential role of OHIG treatment for NVE. Resolution of diarrhea and decreased stool output were observed at seven days; no benefit was found for length of hospital stay or hospital cost.