Summary
The general safety and efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IGIV) as treatment
for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has been well-studied. The current study
compares the safety and efficacy of a novel IGIV (IGIV-C; Gamunex®, 10%) with a licensed
solvent/detergent-treated product (IGIV-S/D; Gamimune®N, 10%) in treatment of ITP.
Ninety-seven pediatric and adult patients with acute and chronic ITP were treated
in a multi-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind parallel group, non-inferiority
trial at 26 international sites. Baseline data (age, duration of ITP, platelet counts,
previous treatment) were comparable between groups. Patients were treated with 1 g/kg/day
of IGIV-C or IGIV-S/D for 2 days. The primary endpoint, proportion of patients whose
platelet counts increased from ≤20 × 109/L to ≥50 × 109/L within 7 days after dosing, was achieved by 35/39 (90%) and 35/42 (83%) of patients
treated with IGIV-C and IGIV-S/D, respectively. A secondary endpoint, maintaining
platelet counts ≥50 × 109/L for ≥7 days, was achieved by 29/39 (74%) of IGIV-C and 25/42 (60%) IGIV-S/D treated
patients. Compared with IGIV-S/D, fewer patients treated with IGIV-C received corticosteroids
beyond day 7 (p = 0.02). Efficacy was independent of the presence of isoantibodies
or blood type, supporting mechanisms of effect different from anti-D treatments. Adverse
events were generally mild and occurred with similar frequency in each group. Viral
safety monitoring for HIV, HCV, HBV and Parvovirus B19 showed no seroconversions on
study. In conclusion, IGIV-C is as safe and efficacious as IGIV-S/D in treatment of
ITP.
Keywords
IVIG - immunoglobulin - immunotherapy - viral safety