Passive immunization against viral hepatitis-- status and prospects.

The value of conventional gamma globulin in prophylaxis of hepatitis A has not been confirmed in recent years but there is no evidence that ineffectiveness has been encountered as a result of declining immune experience among antibody donors in open populations. Fortunately, specific tests for hepatitis A antibody are becoming available as a means of estimating effectiveness of currently manufactured gamma globin. Hepatis B prophylaxis by conventional gamma globlin is much more uncertain but the negative evidence must be considered in light of rising anti-HBs titers of globin manufactured more recently. The latter have appeared to be effective in pre-exposure prophylaxis when nonparenteral transmission was implicated. Post-exposure prophylaxis against massive inocula of hepatitis B, as in transfusions, would appear to require large amounts of HBs antibody. Protection against hepatitis from small inocula accompanying accidental punctures with contaminated needles is under controlled study to determine whether the anti-HBs titer of special globulin preparations is a predictive index of protection. Results are expected by midyear, 1975.