Monoclonal antibodies to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection

Examples

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Brand Name	Chemical Name
Synagis	palivizumab

How It Works

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Palivizumab stops respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from reproducing. This medicine contains antibodies that are produced in the laboratory.

Why It Is Used

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Palivizumab is used to prevent RSV infection. It is primarily used for children who have a high risk of developing complications, such as those with chronic lung disease or heart problems. If your baby was born early or has health problems, talk to your doctor about the need to prevent RSV.

If palivizumab does not prevent a child from becoming infected with RSV, it may make the illness less severe. This reduces the child's chance of having complications, such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

How Well It Works

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Monthly administration of palivizumab during the RSV season results in a 45% to 55% decrease in the hospitalization rate from RSV-related illnesses.¹ Children with chronic lung disease or heart disease were shown to have fewer hospital stays and fewer stays in intensive care when they were given preventive treatment with monoclonal antibody (palivizumab) or with RSV-IGIV.² (RSV-IGIV is another type of antibody used to prevent RSV in high-risk babies. It is not used as often as monoclonal antibody.)

Palivizumab does not decrease how often children get other illnesses, such as ear infections.

Side Effects

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Palivizumab may cause pain at the site where the medicine was given.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

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If your baby or child has a high risk of a serious RSV infection or has previously been given RSV-IGIV, talk to your health professional about whether your child needs palivizumab.

Palivizumab is replacing the use of RSV-IGIV in most children. Palivizumab has several advantages:

• It can be injected into a muscle rather than into a vein (intravenously).
• It does not interfere with the regular immunization schedule.
• It has fewer side effects.

Palivizumab is given as an injection in a doctor's office. It is given every month during RSV season, usually the 5 to 6 months from late fall to early spring.

Preventive treatment with palivizumab should continue throughout the RSV season, regardless of whether a child gets RSV. Different strains of RSV can circulate within a community during the same year, so treatment may still offer protection.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

References

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Citations

1. American Academy of Pediatrics (2003). Revised indications for the use of palivizumab and respiratory syncytial virus immune globulin intravenous for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection. Pediatrics, 112(6): 1447–1452. Also available online: http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/pediatrics;112/6/1447.pdf.

2. Lozano JM (2005). Bronchiolitis. Clinical Evidence (14): 1–15.

Credits

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Author	Amy Fackler, MA
Author	Debby Golonka, MPH
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer	W. David Colby, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
Last Updated	August 9, 2006