Varicella zoster virus antibody titers after intravenous zoster immune globulin in neonates, and the safety of this preparation.

Abstract

AIMS:

1) To assess the safety of intravenous varicella zoster virus hyperimmune globulin G (IV-VZVIG) in neonates; 2) measure varicella zoster virus-specific IgG antibody (VZVIG) changes in newborn IV-VZVIG recipients.

METHODS:

Eighteen neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) neonates with varicella exposure were given 1 ml/kg (43 International Units (IU)/kg) Varitect IV-VZVIG. Serum VZVIG titers were assayed in neonatal recipients 0, 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 d after IV-VZVIG. Also, serum samples for VZV-IgM antibody determinations were obtained at 4 wk post-infusion.

RESULTS:

No varicella developed in the 18 infants. Infusion of 1 ml/kg (43 IU/kg) IV-VZVIG was generally safe. The IV-VZVIG dose resulted in seroconversion of a non-immune newborn. Five infants had low basal VZVIG titers, and two of them had a 0.6-log10 increase at 24 h post-infusion. Neonatal VZVIG titers (mean+/-SEM in log(10)) before IV-VZVIG and after by 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 d were 2.22+/-0.15, 2.17+/-0.17, 2.02+/-0.12, 0.87+/-0.2, 1.09+/-0.19, 2.33+/-0.07, and 2.16+/-0.1, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

One ml/kg (43 IU/kg) IV-VZVIG was generally safe. Our neonatal mean VZV-immune status did not significantly increase after the 1 ml/kg (43 IU/kg) IV-VZVIG dose, although no varicella developed and it caused a VZV-specific seroconversion.

• Authors: Teresa Murguía-de-Sierra, Mónica Villa-Guillén, Dina Villanueva-García, Antide Molina, Alejandra Juárez-Chávez, Elizabeth A Leistikow
• Journal: Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) (Acta Paediatr) Vol. 94 Issue 6 Pg. 790-3 (Jun 2005) ISSN: 0803-5253 [Print] Norway
• PMID: 16188790 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• Immune Sera
• varicella-zoster immune globulin

Topics

• Antibodies, Viral (blood)
• Herpesvirus 3, Human (immunology)
• Humans
• Immune Sera (administration & dosage)
• Infant, Newborn
• Injections, Intravenous