Effect of bacterial antigen lysate on IgG and IgA levels in children with recurrent infections and hypogammaglobulinemia

To evaluate the effect of bacterial antigen lysate on serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, we studied 14 children with recurrent infections and hypogamma globulinemia (IgG and IgA levels below 2 standard deviations for age). Pati ents were treated for a 60-90 day period with OM-85 BV and reevaluated both clinically and by measuring serum Ig levels at the end of follow-up. The c ontrol group consisted of 10 children with recurrent infections who receive d a placebo. Serum Ig levels were also compared with the reference values f or age. The Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical analy sis. In the study group, IgG (pretreatment: 707 mg/dl; post-treatment.. 1,0 22 mg/dl; p <0.004) and IgA levels (pretreatment: 41 mg/dl; post-treatment 83 mg/dl; p <0.018) increased significantly. Furthermore, 13/14 children re ached normal IgG levels, and 12/14 children reached normal age levels for s erum IgA. Similarly, when comparing the pre- and post-treatment levels in t he study group with the levels in the control group, they were significant for IgG (p <0.002) as well as IgA levels (p <0.04). The overall clinical re sponse was favorable in all patients in the treated group. These results su ggest an immunostimulant effect of OM-85 BV; both improving Ig levels and r educing recurrent infections.