The use of IgM-enriched intravenous immunoglobulin for the treatment of neonatal sepsis in preterm infants.
The value of IgM-enriched immunoglobulin therapy in 44 preterm infants with neonatal sepsis was evaluated in a prospective randomized study. All infants received antibiotic therapy and fresh plasma and/or whole blood transfusions. Twenty randomly-chosen infants were allocated to receive 5 ml/kg/d of IgM-enriched immunoglobulin intravenously for three days. Although the mortality rate in preterm infants whose gestational ages were 31-34 weeks in the immunotherapy group was slightly lower than in the control group, the general mortality rate from sepsis in the control group (9/24) and in the immunotherapy group (6/20) showed no statistically significant difference (37.5% vs 30.0%, p < 0.05).
Erdem
G
G
Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara.
Yurdakök
M
M
Tekinalp
G
G
Ersoy
F
F
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous