[Immunoglobulin administration as infection prevention in oncologic patients]

Children receiving cytotoxic drugs were given 7 S IgG or placebo before the period of neutropenia (less than 500/mm3 neutrophils) in a double-blind study. Though the IgG levels differed significantly, fever as the most reliable sign of infection occurred not less often than in the placebo-group. There is no indication for the routinely prophylactic administration of immunoglobulins to oncological patients. The therapeutic benefit of immunoglobulin substitution in cancer patients needs verification.