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Meta-Analysis
. 1995 May;72(3):F151-5.
doi: 10.1136/fn.72.3.f151.

Administration of intravenous immunoglobulins for prophylaxis or treatment of infection in preterm infants: meta-analyses

J B Lacy  1 , A Ohlsson
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Administration of intravenous immunoglobulins for prophylaxis or treatment of infection in preterm infants: meta-analyses

J B Lacy et al. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 1995 May.

Abstract

Aims: To determine the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin administration to premature infants in the prevention and/or treatment of bacterial infection.

Methods: Computer searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCISEARCH and Oxford Database of Perinatal Trials were made. Two independent researchers applied inclusion criteria of: randomised controlled trial; premature and/or low birthweight infant; use of intravenous immunoglobulin; and infection or mortality. Nineteen of 44 identified studies fulfilled these criteria. Study quality was assessed and information on study population, intervention, and outcomes were collected.

Results: Studies were divided into prophylaxis or treatment; results were tabulated for infection, sepsis, and death from all causes. For 17 studies of prophylaxis (n = 5245), the relative risk and confidence interval were, for proved infection 0.81, 0.67-0.97; for sepsis 0.87, 0.66-1.13; for death from all causes 0.85, 0.64-1.14. Some outcome results were heterogeneous. Two treatment studies showed no reduction in mortality when combined.

Conclusions: Routine administration of intravenous immunoglobulin to preterm infants is not recommended.

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Comment in

  • Pitfalls of meta-analysis.
    Haque KN. Haque KN. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 1995 Nov;73(3):F196. doi: 10.1136/fn.73.3.f196. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 1995. PMID: 8535882 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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