[Evaluation of the effectiveness of a specific immunoglobulin against hepatitis A]

The present work deals with the controlled trial aimed at the study of the effectiveness of specific immunoglobulin against hepatitis A, developed in the USSR. This immunoglobulin is prepared from carefully selected blood sera from persons who have had hepatitis A. In accordance with the program approved by the USSR Ministry of Health, two trials were organized among the most susceptible groups of the population: organized groups of preschool children and young adults. During 6 months of the subsequent surveillance carried out in both age groups, the highest morbidity rate in hepatitis A was registered among the nonimmunized subjects. Morbidity rate among the subjects immunized with common commercial immunoglobulin was 3-7 times higher than among those immunized with the specific preparation, but a small size of the groups and a low morbidity level prevented the statistically significant confirmation of this higher effectiveness. Specific immunoglobulin produced a statistically significant (t = 2.72 and 2.4) decrease in morbidity rate among the immunized subjects in both age groups in comparison with morbidity rate among the nonimmunized ones.