In 1981 unusual cases of severe immune deficiency were reported. Two years later the cause of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was identified: a retrovirus, designated the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), that caused a loss of important immune functions leading to a dramatic vulnerability to a variety of bacterial, viral and fungal infections. The finding that the presence of neutralizing antibodies correlated with the disease status suggested that infusion with hyperimmune plasma and human HIV-specific immunoglobulin (HIVIG) obtained from chronically HIV-1-infected asymptomatic donors may be of benefit to patients. However, early clinical studies were disappointing. No clear benefits were found for the majority of patients treated.1