ABSTRACT
High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin play a critical role in a lot of pediatric hematologic diseases. In our experience we studied the effects of IVIG treatment in 63 children. They all tolerated IVIG preparations in every infusions; no trouble caused the interruption of treatment. The efficacy is evident in immunomediated diseases, most of all ITP, and controlling septic episodes in immunocompromised patients (ALL, AIDS, marrow bone transplantation). An important problem is the cost of preparation; but we may consider that this treatment, for example in ITP, reduces hospitalization for children, necessity of platelets' transfusions, use of steroids and, therefore, their collateral effects. Hence, we assert that the social cost of the management of ITP disease is not higher in children treated with IVIG. Furthermore, short hospitalization for IVIG therapy contributes to accept this disease. It should be advisable to make controlled studies to define with more accuracy the role of this preparation and the modality of its use in the different clinical conditions in which it is employed.
