Abstract
The efficacy of commercially-prepared IV infusions of pooled human immunoglohulin G (IVIG) was evaluated in the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in the immunosuppressed rat model to ascertain whether such treatment might prove feasible in the managment of pediatric subjects with PCP. Forty-eight rats were divided into six groups: (1) controls (C), (2) controls given IV human gammaglohulin infusions (C-I), (3) immunosuppressed rats given short-term cortisone (STC), (4) immunosuppressed rats given short-term cortisone and IV human gammaglobulin infusions (STC-I), (5) immunosuppressed rats given long-term cortisone (LTC), and (6) immunosupressed rats given long-term cortisone and IV human gammaglobulin infusions (LTC-I). An enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) was employed to monitor PC-specific endogenous and exogenously administered IgG throughout the test period and toluidine hlue ‘0’ stains were performed to determine the degree of P. carinii infection in rat lung. Lung infection analysis showed statistical equivalence in STC, STC-I, and LTC-I. However, LTC-I lungs contained significantly fewer (P<.05) cysts than did LTC rats not treated with IVIG. IVIG appeared efficacious in reducing the number of cysts in the lungs of immunosuppressed rats with long-term cortisone. This study suggests a significant role for humoral immune defenses in combating PCP and warrants controlled studies in the use of IVIG in the pediatric. patient with PCP.
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Anderson, F., Pifer, L., Edward, C. et al. EFFICACY OF INTRAVENOUS GAMMAGLOBULIN IN THE TREATMENT OF PNEUMOCYSTIS CARINII PNEUMONIA IN THE RAT MODEL. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 308 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00846
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00846