Passive immunization against tetanus with human immune globulin

Abstract

Twenty-seven non-immune European adults and six Indians were passively immunized with tetanus antitoxin, which was given as gamma-globulin prepared from actively immunized Europeans. Titration of tetanus antitoxin in the serum of these persons was done before and 7, 14, and 21 days after immunization. The results showed that high antitoxin levels could be obtained with relatively low doses and that, in contrast to equine antitoxin immunization, the rate of disappearance of antitoxin was slow. However, the Indian subjects appeared to eliminate the immune globulin more rapidly than Europeans receiving the same dose. The question of passive immunization using homologous antitoxin has been discussed. It is recommended that a protective dose of human immune globulin for an average adult should be 400 units and 200 units for children. These dosages will give serum antitoxin levels of not less than 0.05 unit/ml. for at least 14 days in all subjects so treated. These are thought to be protective for passively induced homologous antitoxin. © 1962, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.