Nasal Administration of IgA to Individuals with Hypogammaglobulinemia

Abstract

Many immunodeficient patients constantly carry non-typable Hemophilus influenzae (NTHI) in the nasopharynx, despite seemingly adequate antibiotic therapy. We have studied the effect of nasal administration of IgA on nasopharyngeal colonization in 5 patients with hypogammaglobulinemia, with a productive cough, especially in the mornings, who were constant carriers of NTHI in the nasopharynx, and had IgA, 1 ml 6 times/day, given nasally for 14 days. Nasopharyngeal cultures were obtained on days 0, 7, 14 and 28. Two of the patients became culture-negative during the treatment, and the cough was alleviated in all patients.