Incidental asthma prevention by immune serum globulin.
BACKGROUND
After a case of hepatitis A in a food handling worker in a military base, the entire exposed population was vaccinated with immune serum globulin (ISG). We analyzed the potential effects of ISG on asthma attacks and respiratory infections.


METHODS
The base population was observed for asthma exacerbation for the 3 months after the immunization and was compared with the population of the same base a year earlier. Rates were tested using chi2 statistics.


RESULTS
The vaccinated population had a highly significant decrease in the incidence of asthma attacks (rate ratio [RR] = 0.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09 to 0.45), sinusitis (RR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.58), and pneumonia (RR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.99). No significant difference was observed in the incidence rates of upper respiratory infections between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
A single administration of ISG significantly reduces the rate of asthma attacks and respiratory infections.
Mimouni
Daniel
D
Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. dmimoun1@jhmi.edu
Gdalevich
Michael
M
Mimouni
Karin
K
Mimouni
Francis B
FB
Eldad
Arieh
A
Shpilberg
Ofer
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D007136:Immunoglobulins