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Palivizumab prophylaxis: does it have any influence on the growth and development of the infants?

Ismail Tavsu1, Tugba Gursoy2, Sukriye Dirman3

  • 1Pediatrician, Department of Pediatrics, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

American Journal of Perinatology
|September 12, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Palivizumab prophylaxis significantly reduced respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) hospitalizations in premature infants. However, this treatment did not impact infant growth or development by 18 months corrected age.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Respiratory viral infections

Background:

  • Premature infants are highly susceptible to respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) infections.
  • RSV can lead to severe lower respiratory tract infections and hospitalizations in vulnerable infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of palivizumab prophylaxis on rehospitalization rates in premature infants.
  • To evaluate the influence of palivizumab on the growth and neurodevelopment of premature infants.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving premature infants (gestational age < 32 weeks) receiving palivizumab or a placebo.
  • Monthly nasal swabs and infection/hospitalization monitoring.
  • Assessment of anthropometric indices and neurodevelopment using the Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD) at 18 months corrected age.

Main Results:

  • Palivizumab significantly reduced RSV-related hospitalizations in the year of prophylaxis and the subsequent year (p=0.001).
  • No significant differences were observed in anthropometric measurements between the palivizumab and control groups.
  • Neurodevelopmental outcomes, assessed by GMCD, showed no significant variations between the groups at 18 months corrected age.

Conclusions:

  • Palivizumab prophylaxis is effective in decreasing lower respiratory tract infections and hospitalizations due to RSV in premature infants.
  • While reducing RSV burden, palivizumab does not appear to influence long-term growth or neurodevelopmental outcomes by 18 months corrected age.
Abstract

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