Intravenous immunoglobulin in HIV infection: evidence for the efficacy of treatment.

Abstract

SUMMARY Eight children with symptoms of HIV infection were treated for 12-26 months (median 14 months) with infusions of intravenous immunoglobulin (200 mg/kg) every three weeks. Significant improvement was noted in all children in terms of weight gain, number of infectious episodes, and days spent in hospital. This resulted in a 49% saving in cost on treatment compared with costs accrued previously during inpatient admissions. Immunoglobulin concentrations, which were raised at the start of treatment were not altered, and T4 counts continued to decline slowly. HIV core antigen was detected in four children before treatment, but all became core antigen negative after treatment was commenced, this effect being sustained in three.

Intravenous gammaglobulin: pharmacology, clinical uses and mechanisms of action

“…There was also a moderate improvement in CD4 counts and in mitogen responsiveness in the treated group compared to the control which showed deterioration during the course of the study. In a small, uncontrolled study, Haque et al (194) treated 8 HIVinfected children with 200 mgkgidose every 3 weeks for 12 to 26 months. After 12 months all had subjective improvement and fewer serious infections compared to the patients' own historical control period, but no control group was included.…”

Factor VIII Concentrates in HIV-1-Positive Hemophiliacs Is Pure Better?

“…immuno globulins may have beneficial effects on HIV-1-infected patients. It has been claimed that treatment with immunoglobulin concentrates reduces the risk of disease progression [16,17], Thus, in our opinion, it is worth investi gating whether the relatively slow disease pro gression in patients treated with intermediatepurity factor VIII concentrate may be due to such an effect.…”

Intravenous immunoglobulin in HIV-I infected haemophilic patients.

“…in sera were (1-65) g/l at the beginning and 23*16 (2 09) g/l after 24 months respectively. IgG concentration in sera of the control group were 22-16 (2-84) g/l at the entry and [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] (2126) g/l at the last examination.…”