Antiphospholipid antibody levels in intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) preparations

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by various clinical ma nifestations and by elevated levels of antiphospholipid antibodies. Passive induction of APS by infusion of these antibodies has been demonstrated in animal models. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is one of the therapeutic options in APS. In this study, five commercially used preparations of IVIg were tested for the presence of elevated levels of cardiolipin, beta -glyco protein-1, phosphatidylserine, antinuclear, and double-stranded DNA autoant ibodies, as well as for lupus anticoagulant activity. The absence of abnorm al elevated levels of any of these autoantibodies in five different IVIg pr eparations provides additional evidence for the safety of IVIg use in APS.