Treatment of fever and neutropenia with antibiotics versus antibiotics plus intravenous gammaglobulin in childhood leukemia.

Thirty-three children with leukemia who had neutropenia and fever were randomized to receive cefataxim and amikacin, versus the same antibiotics plus intravenous gammaglobulin (i.v. IgG). Duration of neutropenia, hospitalization and the interruption of chemotherapy were not different in the two groups; however, duration of fever was significantly shorter in the i.v. IgG group.