IMMUNOGLOBULIN REPLACEMENT IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC-LEUKEMIA - A COMPARISON OF 2 DOSE REGIMES

Previous studies have shown that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) the rapy is useful prophylaxis against infection in patients with secondar y hypogammaglobulinaemia due to a low-grade lymphoproliferative diseas e. This randomized double-blind study was undertaken to determine pros pectively the dose regime required. 34 such patients received IVIg at either 500 or 250 mg/kg every 4 weeks for 1 year. There was no signifi cant difference in the rates of serious infections between the two gro ups of patients, which were well matched for disease and laboratory pa rameters. The rates of infection seen were similar to those in IVIg gr oups of previous studies and strikingly different from those in the pl acebo group in the previously randomized placebo-controlled study.