A Retrospective Study of the Use of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

The medical indications for intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) use in neonates include hemolytic disease of the newborn, some congenital immunodeficiencies, and severe sepsis, particularly those with neutropenia. However, IVIG has been used for other conditions in the neonatal period. The UCLA NICU has extensive experience in the management of critically-ill neonates, and IVIG is given to newborns with varied diagnoses, from sepsis to congenital heart defects. The objective of this study is to characterize the indications, frequency, and results of polyclonal IVIG use in a level IV neonatal intensive care unit over a 56 month period (January 2004 through June 2008). A subgroup analysis of those treated for suspected or culture-proven sepsis was also performed. Overall, mortality was high in IVIG-treated patients. Therefore, IVIG is unlikely to improve mortality in critically-ill infants