[Immunoglobulins in sepsis and septic shock]

Clinical efficacy of polyspecific immunoglobulins or monoclonal antibodies to treat patients with severe sepsis or septic shock is still under debate after several clinical trials. Only a few of them have been able to demonstrate a direct benefit to reduce mortality or this effect appears after meta-analysis. Evidence sustains that polyspecific immunoglobulin G reduces mortality in these patients, being this effect higher for IgM-enriched immunoglobulins. Best indications are postsurgical sepsis or early septic shock patients with high titers of endotoxinemia. The use of intravenous immunoglobulins is also recommended for the treatment of patients with streptococcal toxic shock, as demonstrated by the evidence obtained through case-control studies and one randomized clinical trial with a clear trend toward benefit. Evidence does not sustain a favorable impact on mortality for monoclonal antibodies directed against bacterial lypopolysaccaride, other bacterial antigens or against TNF-alpha. Furthermore, infusion of recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist or soluble receptors for TNF-alpha that could attenuate the inflammatory response have not demonstrated utility after many clinical trials. These therapeutic tools are characterized by a high acquisition cost and adequate cost-effectiveness analysis has not been yet performed.