Penetration of administered IgG into the maxillary sinus and long-term clinical effects of intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy on sinusitis in primary hypogammaglobulinaemia.

The influence of long-term intravenous immunoglobulin (i.v. IgG) replacement therapy on the clinical course of chronic sinusitis in patients with primary hypogammaglobulinaemia has not previously been reported. We have analysed the efficacy of i.v. IgG therapy and the penetration of administered i.v. IgG into the maxillary sinus. Seventeen patients with primary hypogammaglobulinaemia received i.v. IgG replacement therapy to maintain pre-infusion serum IgG concentrations above 4 g/l for periods of 12 to 58 (mean 36.7) months. Cases with established chronic sinusitis prior to therapy did not have symptomatic or radiological improvement at this dose, although no sinusitis developed de-novo in the 3 previously unaffected patients. The administered IgG penetrated into maxillary sinus antral lavage fluid in 3 patients from whom secretions were obtained at antroscopy. This indicates that poor clinical responses are not due to lack of penetration of antibodies to the required sites of action. Larger doses of i.v. IgG may be more effective in this situation, but the addition of antibiotics at high dosage may be a more economical therapeutic alternative. These findings highlight the importance of diagnosis of hypogammaglobulinaemia by measurement of serum IgG concentrations in patients who suffer from recurrent sinusitis, as the early institution of i.v. IgG therapy may prevent the development of sinusitis refractory to i.v. IgG therapy.