ROLE OF IMMUNE SERUM GLOBULINS IN PREGNANT-WOMEN DURING AN EPIDEMIC OF HEPATITIS-E

The efficacy of an Indian preparation of immune serum grobulins (ISG) was evaluated among pregnant women during an epidemic of hepatitis E i n Karad, Western India from January to March 1993. Ten of 55 women rec eiving ISG developed immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) during the 1 month of follow-up compared with 18 out of 53 control subjects. Although the total number of recent HEV infect ions was significantly less in the ISG-treated group, no significant d ifference could be shown in the proportion of clinical hepatitis E cas es because of the very small numbers of patients who developed clinica l disease. The observed marginal beneficial effect of ISG might be the result of a low immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-HEV IgG titre (1:500) of the ISG preparation used. Preparation and testing of high-titred ISG s hould be a high priority for protecting pregnant women during epidemic s of hepatitis E.