CROSSOVER STUDY OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH LOW-GRADE B-CELL TUMORS

  • 1 February 1989
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 73  (2) , 366-368
Abstract
A randomized crossover study of prophylactic immunoglobulin (IgG) therapy was performed in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or non-Hodgkin''s lymphoma (NHL). Twelve patients with hypogammaglobulinemia or a history of recurrent infections received infusions of IgG or placebo intravenously (IV) every 3 weeks for 1 year. They were then switched to the alternative preparation for another year. The number of serious bacterial infections was significantly less (P = .001; Mainlands''s cross-over method) in the months in which patients received IgG. Serious bacterial infections showed a trend to be associated with an IgG level <6.4 g/L (P = .046; Fisher''s exact test).