Intravenous immunoglobulin products contain neutralizing antibodies to vaccinia.
OBJECTIVE
Individuals with primary or secondary immune-deficiency diseases may be at risk for vaccinia infection if widespread smallpox-immunization programmes are implemented in the United States of America (USA) for bioterrorism preparedness. The objective of this study was to determine whether commercial immune globulin (intravenous, human) products contain biologically active antibodies to vaccinia that have the potential to protect people, with immune deficiencies, from complications of vaccinia.


METHODS
Eight currently United States (US)-licensed and two European intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) products were tested in a vaccinia plaque-reduction neutralization assay. The in vivo activity of five of these lots was assessed in severely immune-deficient mice.


RESULTS
All tested products contained neutralizing anti-vaccinia activity, in vitro and in vivo.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of IVIG by individuals with inherited or acquired humoral immune deficiencies may provide some protection if they are inadvertently exposed to vaccinia.
Goldsmith
J C
JC
Immune Deficiency Foundation, Towson, MD 21204, USA. jgoldsmith@primaryimmune.org
Eller
N
N
Mikolajczyk
M
M
Manischewitz
J
J
Golding
H
H
Scott
D E
DE
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D023482:Bioterrorism; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D017277:Drug Approval; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000276:immunology*; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / Q000276:immunology; D012899:Smallpox / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous