IMMUNOPTOPHYLAXIS OF THE RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRAL INFECTION IN CHILDREN UNDER RISK OF HEAVY COURSE OF THE DISEASE: PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF IMPLEMENTING THE MOSCOW PROGRAM

Abstract

The respiratory syncytial viral (RSV) infection is the leading cause of lower respiratory infections (bronchiolitis, pneumonia) in young children. Premature children and children with an inherent heart defect experience a heavy course of the infection, they require treatment in the resuscitation department, oxygen therapy and ALV. This article summarizes the first experience in Russia of executing a regional program on immunoprophylaxis of the RSV infection using monoclonal RDV-antibodies prepared with palivizumab among the following categories of children: premature children, children with a bronchopulmonary dysplasia and an inherent heart defect. The inclusion of palivizumab into the rehabilitation program of these categories of patients allowed to decrease the frequency of lower respiratory infections and corresponding hospitalizations by 4.6 and 4.8 times respectively. Not a single patient out of the 5 hospitalized with a lower respiratory infection, immunized with palivizumab, had his treatment connected with RSV. A high level of the drug’s safety was also determined — none of the children experienced any sort of unwanted effects.

Keywords

• respiratory syncytial viral infection
• immunoprophylaxis
• palivizumab
• children
• risk groups.