Crossover study of immunoglobulin replacement therapy in patients with
low-grade B-cell tumors
H Griffiths, V Brennan, J Lea, C Bunch, M Lee and H Chapel
Department of Immunology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, England.
A randomized crossover study of prophylactic immunoglobulin (IgG) therapy
was performed in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (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; Mainland'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 less than 6.4 g/L (P =
.046; Fisher's exact test).
Volume 73,
Issue 2,
pp. 366-368,
02/01/1989
Copyright © 1989 by The American Society of Hematology