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Peak levels of immunoglobulin G are obtained approximately 2 days after intramuscular injection of BayGam (immune globulin) .¹ The half-life of IgG in the circulation of individuals with normal IgG levels is 23 days.²

Passive immunization with BayGam (immune globulin) modifies hepatitis A, prevents or modifies measles, and provides replacement therapy in persons with hypogammaglobulinemia or agammaglobulinemia. BayGam (immune globulin) is not standardized with respect to antibody titers against hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and should not be used for prophylaxis of viral hepatitis type B. Prophylactic treatment to prevent hepatitis B can best be accomplished with use of Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human), often in combination with Hepatitis B Vaccine.³

BayGam (immune globulin) may be of benefit in women who have been exposed to rubella in the first trimester of pregnancy and who will not consider a therapeutic abortion.⁴ BayGam (immune globulin) may also be considered for use in immunocompromised patients for passive immunization against varicella if Varicella-Zoster Immune Globulin (Human) is not available.⁵

Immune Globulin (Human) is not indicated for routine prophylaxis or treatment of rubella, poliomyelitis, mumps, or vari-cella. It is not indicated for allergy or asthma in patients who have normal levels of immunoglobulin.⁶

In a clinical study in eight healthy human adults receiving another hyperimmune immune globulin product treated with solvent/detergent, Rabies Immune Globulin (Human), BayRab™, prepared by the same manufacturing process, detectable passive antibody titers were observed in the serum of all subjects by 24 hours post injection and persisted through the 21 day study period. These results suggest that passive immunization with immune globulin products is not affected by the solvent/detergent treatment.

REFERENCE

1. Smith GN, Griffiths B, Mollison D, et al: Uptake of IgG after intramuscular and subcutaneous injection. Lancet1(7762): 1208-12, 1972.

2. Waldmann TA, Strober W, Blaese RM: Variations in the metabolism of immunoglobulins measured by turnover rates. In Merler E (ed.): Immunoglobulins: biologic aspects and clinical uses. Washington DC, Nat Acad Sci, 1970, pp 33-51.

3. Recommendation of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP): Postexposure prophylaxis of hepatitis B. MMWR 33(21): 285-90, 1984.

4. American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Infectious Diseases: Report. ed. 19. Evanston, 1982, p 231.

5. Gershon AA, Piomelli S, Karpatkin M, et al: Antibody to varicella-zoster virus after passive immunization against chicken-pox. J Clin Microbiol 8(6): 733-5, 1978.

6. American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Infectious Diseases: Report. ed. 19. Evanston, 1982, pp 134-5.

Last reviewed on RxList: 11/13/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.