NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Premature infants are often treated with the monoclonal antibody palivizumab for prophylaxis against respiratory syncytial virus. In a recent multicenter analysis of clinical isolates of the virus, researchers found that palivizumab-resistant mutants do not presently appear to be a problem, even in children receiving prophylaxis.
Investigators lead Dr. John P. DeVincenzo of the University of Tennessee in Memphis, studied isolates from infants hospitalized for the virus between 1998 and 2002 at eight centers in the U.S. The researchers analyzed the isolates using an immunofluorescence-binding assay that predicts palivizumab neutralization of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Palivizumab bound to all 371 isolates that could be evaluated, including 25 isolates from children who had received palivizumab therapy during the current season, the researchers report the September 1st issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Furthermore, the investigators found that the “presence of the palivizumab epitope on respiratory syncytial virus strains...correlated with their neutralization by palivizumab.”
“The results of the present study are important and reassuring but should not be overly extrapolated,” the authors caution. They note that their patients’ duration of exposure to the palivizumab averaged only 2 months.
Still, they conclude, “at present, development of palivizumab-resistant mutants does not appear to play a significant role in hospitalization for breakthrough respiratory syncytial virus disease occurring in infants receiving prophylaxis with palivizumab.”
Source: J Infect Dis 2004;190:975-978. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Biological Phenomena: Biological Phenomena, Cell Phenomena, and Immunity: Biological Sciences: Biology: Drug Resistance, Microbial: Genetics: Genetics, Microbial: Microbiologic Phenomena: Pharmacogenetics: Biological SciencesCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
