PASSIVE IMMUNIZATION

 

INTRODUCTION:  Human immunity can either be induced artificially, or acquired naturally.  Passive immunization consists of transfer of immunity to a host using preformed immunologic products. From a practical standpoint, only immunoglobulins have been used for passive immunization, because passive administration of cellular components of the immune system has been technically difficult and associated with graft-versus-host reactions.  Graft-versus-host reactions are complications that result from donation of organs or products from a different individual or external source in which the body may view it as foreign due to the differences in the Major histocompatibility complex (MHC).   

Products of the cellular immune system such as interferons have also been used in the therapy of a wide variety of hematologic and infectious diseases.  Passive immunization with antibodies may be accomplished with either animal or human immunoglobulins in varying degrees of purity.  These may contain relatively high titers of antibodies directed against a specific antigen or, as is true for pooled immune globulin, may simply contain antibodies found in most of the population. Passive immunization is useful for;

(1) individuals unable to form antibodies for example, congenital agammaglobulinemia

(2) prevention of disease when time does not permit active immunization such as, postexposure

(3) for treatment of certain diseases normally prevented by immunization such as, tetanus and  

(4) for treatment of conditions for which active immunization is unavailable or impractical (eg, snakebite).  

Complications from administration of  human  immunoglobulins are rare. The injections may be moderately painful and rarely a sterile abscess may occur at the injection site. Transient hypotension and pruritus occasionally occur with the administration of intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) products, but generally are mild. Individuals with certain immunoglobulin deficiency states (IgA deficiency, etc) may occasionally develop hypersensitivity reactions to immune globulin that may limit therapy.

RELATED;

1.  THE BCG IMMUNISATION FOR NEONATES 

2.  IMMUNOGLOBULINS 

3.  IMMUNOLOGY

4.  SPECIFIC IMMUNITY

5.  MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX

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