[Rubella in pregnancy: experimental studies on the value of gamma-globulin after rubella wild virus infection (author's transl)].

Rubella infection was produced with a wild rubella virus in 24 volunteers by intranasal application. Some of the subjects were given gamma-globulin intramuscular 24 hours later. In the control group clinically manifest rubella with massive viral excretion in the throat occurred in all in whom infection had taken place. In the majority of subjects rubella virus could be demonstrated in blood shortly before the skin rash appeared. High antibody titres occurred already 20 days after the infection. In subjects who were given gamma-globulin there were no clinical signs of rubella, viral excretion in the throat was diminished and shortened and viraemia was never demonstrated, antibody response was delayed and lower. But there was no significant decrease in the infection rate after gamma-globluin administration. It is concluded that early administration of a sufficient amount of rubella antibodies achieves inhibition of rubella virus multiplication and thus decreases significantly the risk of damage to the fetus.