Manipulating the Immune System with Immune Globulin

ALMOST as soon as a therapeutically useful concentrated immune globulin product became available for intramuscular use, it was obvious that a preparation that could be administered intravenously would be advantageous.1 , 2 However, many years of immunochemical research were required before a concentrated, biologically active, and safe preparation of immune globulin suitable for intravenous use became available. In the past decade, chemists have learned how to prevent protein aggregation while concentrating immune globulin. Purification can be achieved by chromatography, and stabilization of the intact immune globulin is then promoted by acidification with pepsin or the addition of sugars, amino acids, or both. . . .