Respiratory Syncytial Virus Immune Globulin

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immune globulin is a purified human hyperimmune globulin that provides passive immunity against complicated RSV disease in select groups of infants and young children. According to microneutralisation assay results, its RSV-neutralising antibody concentration was significantly greater than that of nonspecific immune globulin, thereby suggesting the potential for more reliable protection against RSV infection. In 2 randomised double-blind trials, prophylaxis with RSV immune globulin significantly reduced (vs no immune globulin) the incidence and severity of RSV disease in infants and young children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, prematurity or bronchopulmonary dysplasia due to prematurity, or congenital heart disease (in 1 study). Treatment with RSV immune globulin did not significantly reduce the duration of hospitalisation and intensive care in children hospitalised with RSV infection in 2 randomised double-blind trials; however, a trend towards a significant treatment benefit was apparent in children with severe disease in 1 of these studies.