Purpose:
Presently, there is no FDA approved antiviral therapy for the treatment of adenovirus (Ad) ocular infections. The goal of the current study was to determine the antiviral efficacy of Intravenous Immunoglobulin G (Iv-IgG), a preparation of highly purified and concentrated immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies isolated from a large pool of human plasma donors, on acute Ad replication in the Ad5/NZW rabbit ocular model.
Methods:
15 NZW rabbits were topically inoculated in both eyes, following corneal scarification, with 1.5 x 106 pfu/eye of Ad5. On day 1, the rabbits were divided into 3 topical treatment groups (n=5/group): I - 10% Iv-IgG, QID x 10 days; II - 0.5% Cidofovir (CDV), BID x 7 days; III - Control (saline), QID x 10 days. All eyes were cultured for virus on days 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 14.
Results:
* p < 0.02 compared to the Control. p = 0.003 compared to CDV.
Conclusions:
Topical 10% Iv-IgG was significantly more effective than the Control in reducing Ad Positive Cultures/Total (Days 7-14), Duration of Ad Shedding, Mean Ad Titer (Days 1-5), and Mean Ad Titer (Days 7-14) in the Ad5/NZW rabbit ocular model. Furthermore, 10% Iv-IgG was more effective than 0.5% Cidofovir in some viral outcome measures. Additional studies are warranted to establish the clinical potential of Iv-IgG as a topical antiviral treatment for adenovirus ocular infections.
Keywords: adenovirus • antiviral drugs • conjunctivitis