The results of prophylactic ivig administration in premature infants

Year 1995, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 119 - 125, 01.07.1995

F. Karademir İ. Göçmen E. Saraoğlu İ. Ezdar Z. Mete M. Tunçer

Abstract

In this study, we tried to evaluate the effect of intravenously administered IgG on serum immunoglobulin levels of preterm babies and its efficacy on preventing nosocomial infection and sepsis.

Serum IgG, IgM, IgA levels were evaluated in cord blood of 50 preterm and 25 term newborns who were born in Gülhane Military Medical Academy Haydarpaşa Training Hospital between March 1992 and April 1993. The correlation of babies’ immunoglobulin levels to their mothers' levels and gestational age was evaluated. The immunoglobulin levels of the preterm newborns were found to be significantly lower when compared to term newborns.

(p<0.001).

The premature group was divided into two comparable groups according to the gestational age, birth weight and sex. Intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) was administered to the first group (treatment group) on days 0, 10, 20 and 30 with a dose of 0.5 g/kg. No therapy was given to the second group (control group). The serum immunoglobulin levels were compared on the 2nd and 30th days. A significant increase in immunoglobulin G levels was observed in the treatment group (p<0.001). No suppression of endogenous immunoglobulin synthesis was observed in the treatment group. On the 30th day, as the immunoglobulin levels decreased, the IgG levels were still significantly high in the treatment group as compared to the controls (pcO.001).

The administration of IVIG did result in a significant increase in IgG levels in the treatment group but did not effect the nosocomial infection rate (20% versus 24%), sepsis and mortality rates (12% versus 12%).

Keywords

IVIG, premature infant, sepsis

References

• Bussel J, Oiuliano M, LaOamma EF. Prophylaxis ot neonatal sepsis wih intravenous gammaglobulin; In: Morell A. Hydegger UE, eds. Clinical use ol intravenous immunoglobulin. Orlando, Academic Press, 1986; 171-174.