Immunoglobulin therapy in older infants and children.

The availability of intravenous immunoglobulin preparations and human monoclonal antibodies has broadened the potential utility of antibody therapy to include treatment of viral infections such as cytomegalovirus and respiratory syncytial virus and prevention and treatment of serious bacterial infections such as endotoxic shock and pneumonia in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. As new polyclonal and monoclonal immunoglobulin preparations are developed for specific organisms or clinical settings, immunoglobulin therapy is likely to become an increasingly important component of the clinician's armamentarium.