[Prevention of Rhesus incompatibility and viral safety]

Sporadic reports on hepatitis-B and NANB transmissions via intravenous immunoglobulin preparations (ivIg) and a series of NANB cases after administration of intramuscular immunoglobulin (imIg) for prophylaxis of immunisation against the Rhesus (Rh) antigen D (imIg-D) in the former Eastern Germany led us to investigate retrospectively the virus safety of imIg-D regarding transfusion-relevant viral infections. In 520 Rh-negative women, who had received a total number of 987 imIg-D injections over a period of 24 years from 1968 to the beginning of 1992, the parameters HBs-Ag, HIV-1,2-Ab, HCV-Ab, HBc-Ab and CMV-Ab were measured. A comparison of the results between the test group and a control group of Rh-positive women revealed no statistically significant differences. This underlines the virus safety of the imIg-D-preparations that have been in use in our area for the last 24 years.