EFFECT OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN-G ON THE HEPATIC MICROVASCULAR INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE DURING SEPSIS

The effects of intravenous immunoglobulin G (ivlG) on the hepatic micr ovascular inflammatory response to sepsis were studied in rats by in v ivo microscopy. High doses of ivlG (300 mg/kg bw) (Sandoglobulin or ra t IgG) significantly improved the 48 h survival of septic rats from 25 -66% when ivlG was given before or immediately after cecal ligation an d puncture, Circulating endotoxin also was significantly reduced. Eigh t hours after inducing sepsis, the average number of leukocytes adheri ng to the sinusoidal endothelium increased 15-fold and the average dec rease in the number of perfused sinusoids was 22%, IvlG administration minimized these responses, In both septic and nonseptic animals, ivlG also reduced the phagocytic activity of Kupffer cells. The results su ggest that high doses of ivlG not only reduce lethality but also limit hepatic microcirculatory dysfunction during sepsis by minimizing leuk ocyte-endothelial interactions that may be a result of reducing circul ating endotoxin and modifying Kupffer cell function.