TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR AND INTRAVENOUS GAMMA-GLOBULINS IN COMMON VARIABLE IMMUNODEFICIENCY

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) patients require regular intrav enous immunoglobulin substitution therapy (IVGG). We studied eight pat ients; four of whom had adverse reactions to IVGG, and found that thos e coincided with elevated tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) leve ls during infusion. Those reactions and TNF production were abolished by switching from one IVGG preparation to another in two patients. Rea ppearance of adverse reactions after switching preparation was precede d by a progressive rise in peak TNF levels in one patient. (C) 1994 Ac ademic Press, Inc.