Relationship of the dose of intravenous gammaglobulin to the prevention of infections in adults with common variable immunodeficiency

Abstract

The objective was to assess clinical efficacy of 3 dosages of intravenous gammaglobulins to prevent infectious episodes in adult common variable immunodeficiency. We designed a randomized, double blind, dose-assessing study. The setting was at University Hospital, Out-Patient Clinic. Our patients were twenty-one adult patients with common variable immunodeficiency. The measurements were comparative study of the number and severity of infections using 3 various dosages of intravenous gammaglobulins, each given monthly for at least 6 months. Results indicated four hundred and eighty-four infectious episodes occurred while giving 305 infusions of IVIG 200 mg/kg; 205 infectious episodes while giving 170 infusions of 400 mg/kg and 436 infectious episodes while giving 247 infusions of 600 mg/kg. The morbidity scores (infection/infusion) were 1.59, 1.21 and 1.77 respectively (p-N/S). There was no significant difference in the severity of infections on the above 3 dosages, and no difference in the duration of infection-free intervals. The conclusions resulted in no significant differences in morbidity in adult patients with common variable immunodeficiency treated in cross-over pattern with IVIG 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg. Thus, high dosages of IVIG are not conferring better protection against infections in such patients.