Efficacy of hepatitis B immune serum globulin after accidental exposure. Preliminary report of the Veterans Administration Cooperative Study.

A randomised, double-blind, controlled trial has been undertaken to compare the efficacy of hepatitis B immune globulin (H.B.I.G.) with that of immune serum globulin (I.S.G.) for the prophylaxis of viral hepatitis. Participants in the trial were individuals exposed accidentally to material infectious for hepatitis (primarily viral B hepatitis). Preliminary evaluation of the first 302 of the 561 individuals entered into the study indicates that H.B.I.G. significantly reduced the frequencies of both clinical and subclinical hepatitis during the first 3--4 months after the injection. Less than 10% of H.B.I.G. recipients had detectable anti-HBs at the sixth month after the injection, suggesting that H.B.I.G. might need to be given every 3--4 months to continually exposed individuals. Further long-term evaluation is required in order to define more clearly those most likely to benefit from H.B.I.G.