Use of an immunoglobulin preparation enriched for IgM (Pentaglobin) for the treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease.

Pentaglobin is a commercial immunoglobulin preparation which is enriched specifically for IgM and also contains antibodies that are capable of neutralizing endotoxins. Its potential use in treating patients with acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was studied in a phase I/II study. Pentaglobin was administered at a dose of 8 ml/kg/day for 4 days as a continuous infusion to 10 patients after allogeneic marrow transplantation who had histologically documented moderate grade II (n = 8) or moderately severe acute GVHD grade III (n = 2), and who did not require immediate treatment with steroids. There were no side effects related to the infusion of Pentaglobin and in all cases the serum concentrations of IgA, IgG and IgM at least doubled. Improvement of GVHD was seen in five patients with grade II GVHD. Conversely, in three patients with grade II and two patients with grade III GVHD, the disease either progressed during Pentaglobin infusion and required steroid treatment or showed no change and required steroids later in the course. Pentaglobin, therefore, might have some effect on mild and moderate GVHD. Randomized trials should be able to determine whether Pentaglobin could be considered as part of the GVHD prophylaxis or as adjunct treatment for acute GVHD together with low doses of steroids.