Opsonic and Physicochemical Characteristics of Intravenous Immunoglobulin Preparations

Abstract

The composition and opsonizing activity of five commercially available immunoglobulin preparations for intravenous use (Venoglobulin I, Venilon, Gammagard, Polyglobin, and Sandoglobulin) were studied. The composition of these preparations does not differ very much as far as total protein, immunoglobulin class and IgG subclass concentrations are concerned. The only exceptions were that Veniglobulin I, Gammagard and Sandoglobulin contain IgA, which might cause side effects in patients with anti-IgA antibodies, Gammagard contains very little IgG4, and Venilon and Polyglobin contain no and almost no IgG3, respectively, which might explain their very low opsonic activity. It was found that Venilon and Gammagard activate complement in the ready-for-infusion state. The opsonic activity of Venoglobulin I, Sandoglobulin and Gammagard is about equal to that of inactivated serum: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli with K antigen, Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus group B are well opsonized and E. coli without K antigen and Streptococcus pneumoniae are poorly opsonized.

Differences between IGIV products: Impact on clinical outcome

“…The various procedures to inactivate or remove viruses can exert some influence on the final product [5]. For example, processing time or the harshness of the chemical treatment could affect the final product and biologic activity of the IgG molecule.…”

“…Acknowledging the fact and importance that the products do differ, the first concern is to understand how the various production processes can result in critical differences in the biologic activity of the IgG molecule [2][3][4][5][6]. This is illustrated in Fig.…”