USE OF AN IMMUNOGLOBULIN-M CONTAINING PREPARATION FOR TREATMENT OF 2 HYPOGAMMAGLOBULINEMIC PATIENTS WITH PERSISTENT CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI INFECTION

This report describes two hypogammaglobulinemic patients with persiste nt Campylobacter jejuni infections in spite of IgG substitution and an tibiotic therapy. Since serum bactericidal activity (SBA) depends on I gM, these patients were each treated with six doses of an IgM-containi ng immunoglobulin preparation (Pentaglobin) at three-week intervals. D uring IgG therapy SBA was not seen in either patient. However, one hou r following administration of the IgM preparation SBA increased to 90 %. Just before the next dose SBA was still at the 30-70 % level. Both patients tolerated the therapy very well and there were no culture-con firmed relapses of Campylobacter jejuni infection. The IgM preparation may therefore be a useful alternative to conventional IgG in the trea tment of hypogammaglobulinemic patients with persistent Campylobacter jejuni infection.