Impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Immune Globulin in 1996-1997

Abstract

A study was conducted to compare hospitalization rates for premature infants with and without chronic lung disease who received respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunoglobulin with similar infants whose parents refused such treatment during the 1996-97 winter season. The study in Seattle, USA, included infants born at <35 weeks' gestation who were <6 months old without lung disease and children who had been born prematurely, had chronic respiratory disease and were <2 years old at the onset of the RSV season. 76 infants (66 (87%) with chronic lung disease and 10 (13%) born prematurely without lung disease) received RSV immunoglobulin; 65 infants (18 (28%) with chronic lung disease and 47 (72%) born prematurely without lung disease) did not. Three (4%) of the treated group and 2 (3%) of the untreated group were hospitalized for RSV infections. Of those with chronic lung disease, 5% (3 of 66) of those treated with RSV immunoglobulin were hospitalized, compared with 11% (2 of 18) of those untreated. Of those born prematurely without lung disease, no infant in the treated (0 of 10) or untreated (0 of 47) group was hospitalized. It is concluded that the risk of hospitalization of infants aged <6 months without lung disease and born prematurely is low. It is suggested that current recommendations for preventing RSV illness in this group by using RSV immunoglobulin may require inclusion of more specific clinical characteristics rather than gestational age alone.