Role of immune serum globulins in pregnant women during an epidemic of hepatitis E.

The efficacy of an Indian preparation of immune serum globulins (ISG) was evaluated among pregnant women during an epidemic of hepatitis E in Karad, Western India from January to March 1993. Ten of 55 women receiving ISG developed immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) during the 1 month of follow-up compared with 18 out of 53 control subjects. Although the total number of recent HEV infections was significantly less in the ISG-treated group, no significant difference could be shown in the proportion of clinical hepatitis E cases because of the very small numbers of patients who developed clinical disease. The observed marginal beneficial effect of ISG might be the result of a low immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-HEV IgG titre (1:500) of the ISG preparation used. Preparation and testing of high-titred ISG should be a high priority for protecting pregnant women during epidemics of hepatitis E.