Prevention of infections hepatitis by gamma globulin

Infectious hepatitis, a viral disease, has become increasingly more important in recent years. It is believed that the great increase in reported cases is not due entirely to better reporting, but that there has been an actual increase in the incidence of this disease. The comparatively long incubation period in infectious hepatitis, the high incidence in persons in close contact with patients who have the disease, and the fact that in most instances contact between persons is the mode of spread, makes this disease particularly suitable for the use of an immunizing agent which would be administered after exposure. From the studies reviewed it is apparent that gamma globulin is of value in preventing hepatitis both when administered as mass prophylaxis in an epidemic, and when given to persons in close contact with a person who has the disease. Widespread use of gamma globulin prophylactically among persons who have been in close contact with the occasional patients with infectious hepatitis seen by practicing physicians might often obviate the need for mass immunization. It should be stated that there is little evidence for the effectiveness of gamma globulin in the therapy of infectious hepatitis. In a study in which very large amounts (average dose 45 cc.) of gamma globulin were given very early in the disease, no significant difference was observed between those injected and a control group.     

Morphofunctional changes in the glands of the tracheobronchial system following gamma globulin administration

Morpho-functional changes and synthesis of carbohydrate compounds in the mucous membrane of the rat and cat trachea and bronchi have been studied 2, 4, 7, 14 and 24 days after a single and twice administration of gamma-globulin into the respiratory tract and after repeated intrapleural and intramuscular administration following sensibilization with a complete Freund's adjuvant. Dynamic of the changes observed depends, to a great extent, on the mode and multiplicity of administration of the adjuvant. When gamma-globulin is administered into the respiratory tract or intrapleurally, a more active incorporation of 3H-glucose and 35S-sodium sulfate into chondroitinsulphate A, C, sialic acids and glycogen, which are synthesized by cells of the tracheobronchial system glands, occurs. In 14-24 days after gamma-globulin has been administered by any mode, sulfated glycosamineoglycans (of chondroitinsulfate B and heparin type), as well as proteoglycans and sialic acids resistive to treatment with sialidase are accumulating in discharge from the glands. The accumulation of the sulfated glycosamin sulfates is accompanied with an increased level of serum antibodies specific for the administered antigen.     

Effect of gamma globulin on reactivity of the organism. V. Types of biological activity of gamma globulin preparations]

Biological activity of 110 series of commercial gamma-globulin preparations was studied; they were found to contain placental antigens, group-specific blood substances, gonadotropic hormones and antibodies to them. Placental antigens were found in 12% of placental and abortive gamma-globulin batches in titres of 1 : 2--1 : 16; no placental protein was revealed in donor gamma-globulin. There were group-specific blood substances in all the batches of placental and abortive gamma-globulin studied (in titres of 1 : 138--A, 1 : 112 B in the placental gamma-globulin and in titres of 1 : 48.9--A, 1 : 32--B in the abortive gamma-globulin). In the preparations from the venous blood group-specific substances were either absent or present in lowe titres only (1 : 2). The value of gonadotropic hormones in the placental gamma-globulin batches constituted 873+/-157, and in the abortive--991.4+/-147 IU/l; no gonadotropins were revealed in donor gamma-globulin. The mean titres of antibodies to gonadotropin hormone in the gamma-globulin preparations made of placental blood constituted 1 : 236+/-32, of abortive--1 : 131+/-16.6, and of the venous blood--1 : 46+/-24.7. The presence of biologically-active substances in the gamma-globulin preparations pointed to the necessity of increased requirement of their quality; additional requirements to its standardization proved to be also necessary.