TREATMENT OF SEVERE PERTUSSIS BY ADMINISTRATION OF SPECIFIC GAMMA-GLOBULIN WITH HIGH TITERS ANTITOXIN ANTIBODY

Our patient presented with severe respiratory distress and marked pleo cytosis. She was mechanically ventilated and received gamma globulin w ith high titers of anti-pertussis toxin and anti-filamentous hemagglut inin. Her clinical signs improved and a notable decrease in white bloo d cell count was observed. Ten months after treatment, the patient sho wed normal physical and mental development and anti-pertussis toxin an d anti-filamentous hemagglutinin titers were significantly increased. Recently, the effectiveness of gamma globulin therapy has been emphasi zed again. Our experience supports the use of iv gamma globulin infusi on. Also, gamma globulin did not influence the patient's own immunolog ic response to pertussis. Gamma globulin therapy with high anti-pertus sis toxin titers could be considered for treatment of severe pertussis .