[Intravenous immunoglobulin substitution in patients with ARC and AIDS (WR 3-6)]

HIV-infected patients acquire a profound dysfunction in humoral and cellular immunity. This immunological impairment causes a markedly increased incidence of recurrent infections. While effective prophylaxis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is available, infections with other microorganisms still cause a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Preliminary results of our randomized outpatient trial to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in adults demonstrate that IVIG reduces the episodes of fever, diarrhea, and the duration of hospitalization. We also found a significant reduction of mortality due to infection.