Serum ALT Levels in Patients with Primary Hypogammaglobulinemia Receiving Replacement Therapy with Intravenous Immunoglobulin or Fresh Frozen Plasma

The intravenous immunoglobulin (IV. IgG) preparation used in this study is manufactured by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) by the pH 4/mild pepsin method. Recent reports suggest that non-A, non-B hepatitis may be transmitted by certain intravenous immunoglobulin preparations. Serum ALT levels were therefore measured prospectively in 16 patients with primary hypogammaglobulinaemia who received an intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy (SNBTS IV IgG) over a period ranging from 6 to 25 months. Retrospective analysis of serum ALT levels was also carried out in 8 patients with primary hypogammaglobulinaemia who received fresh frozen plasma (FFP) for periods ranging from 8 months to 13 years. There was no evidence of non-A, non-B hepatitis transmission by either SNBTS IV IgG or by FFP in all the patients studied.