GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF SPECIFIC MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES (PALIVIZUMAB) FOR THE PREVENTION OF RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS (RSV) INFECTIONS IN SLOVENIA

Abstract

Background. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children under 12 months of age. Premature children and those with chronic lung disease are at increased risk for severe RSV infection. In 1998, palivizumab, a monoclonal antibody was registered in the US for the prevention of RSV infections in at-risk children. Widespread use of palivizumab is limited by its high price.Conclusions. In most countries guidelines for the use of palivizumab were set at the national level according to the local epidemiological data on the epidemiology of RSV infections in premature children. At present, a prospective study on the epidemiology of RSV infections in children in Slovenia has been going on and it will be finished in 2003. Slovenian guidelines for the use of palivizumab are presented in the article – these will need to be changed according to the results of the study.