RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS IMMUNE GLOBULIN

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immune globulin is a purified human hyperimmune globulin that provides passive immunity against complicate d RSV disease in select groups of infants and young children. Accordin g to microneutralisation assay results. its RSV-neutralising antibody concentration was significantly greater than that of nonspecific immun e globulin, thereby suggesting the potential for more reliable protect ion against RSV infection. In 2 randomised double-blind trials, prophy laxis with RSV immune globulin significantly reduced (vs no immune glo bulin) the incidence and severity of RSV disease in infants and young children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. prematurity or bronchopulmon ary dysplasia due to prematurity. or congenital heart disease (in 1 st udy). Treatment with RSV immune globulin did not significantly reduce the duration of hospitalisation and intensive carl in children hospita lised with RSV infection in 2 randomised double-blind trials; however, a trend towards a significant treatment benefit was apparent in child ren with severe disease in I of these studies.