Evaluating the Efficacy and Anti-infective Effect of High-dose Intravenous Immunoglobulin Adjuvant Therapy for Acquired Aplastic Anemia Children.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and anti-infective effect of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (HDIVIG) in severe or very severe aplastic anemia children were evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In total, 61 patients who underwent immunosuppressive therapy were retrospectively reviewed. The non-IVIG group (30 cases) received rabbit-antithymocyte protein (R-ATG, 3 to 5 mg/kg/d, for 5 consecutive days)+cyclosporin A (CSA), and the HDIVIG group (31 cases) underwent R-ATG+CSA+immunoglobulin (1 g/kg/d, for 2 consecutive days, once a month, 6 times). RESULTS: The early effective rate was higher in the HDIVIG group (P=0.020). However, the long-term effective rate and the 5-year overall survival rates difference were not statistically significant (P=0.717, 0.419). The infection rate and severe infection rate in the HDIVIG group were lower (P=0.003, 0.008). The infection-related mortality differences were not statistically significant after ATG application (P>0.05). In the HDIVIG group, 9 patients were nonresponders. Among the nonresponders, 8 patients' first-dose IVIG was given within 7 days before ATG. CONCLUSIONS: HDIVIG may increase the early effective rate and reduce early infection and serious infection for aplastic anemia children, but failed to reduce the infection-related mortality.