[Specific anti-cytomegalovirus immunoglobulins in the prevention of cytomegalovirus infections in bone marrow allografts].

In order to assess the role of specific anti-CMV immunoglobulins in the prevention of severe cytomegalovirus infection in bone marrow transplant recipients, 46 consecutive patients were treated from day 1 to day 90 with injection of hyperimmune immunoglobulin with titres greater than 10,000 (ELISA) prepared from plasma selected for its high antibody titre (greater than 1,250). None of the patients developed CMV interstitial pneumonia; 5 patients developed diffuse pneumonitis, 2 of the aspergillus type and 3 apparently idiopathic, which progressed to fibrosis. There were no deaths directly attributable to CMV infection. This study confirms the efficacy of high dose immunoglobulin therapy in the high risk period for the prevention of sever CMV infection. In the absence of effective antiviral therapy, it is important to use all measures of prevention in patients with bone marrow transplants. The double identification of seronegative and hyperimmune blood donors allows preparation of uncontaminated cell fractions (with respect to CMV) and the selection of hyperimmune plasmas for the preparation of specific immunoglobulins.