INTRAVENOUS IMMUNE GLOBULIN IN CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC-LEUKEMIA

The most common complication of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is infection, which occurs mainly in advanced stages of disease or in th ose patients with hypogammaglobulinaemia. Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) has been shown to be a useful prophylactic therapy against infe ctions in such patients. A randomized, double-blind study on 36 patien ts receiving either 500mg/kg or 250mg/kg IVIG every 4 weeks was undert aken to determine the dose regimen required. There was no significant difference in the two treatment groups and we found that CLL patients were equally protected with low-dose IVIG.