CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
The usefulness of prophylactic rabies antibody in
preventing rabies in humans when administered immediately after exposure was
dramatically demonstrated in a group of persons bitten by a rabid wolf in Iran.1,2
Similarly, beneficial results were later reported from the U.S.S.R.3
Studies coordinated by WHO (World Health Organization) helped determine the
optimal conditions under which antirabies serum of equine origin and rabies
vaccine can be used in man.4-7 These studies showed that serum can interfere
to a variable extent with the active immunity induced by the vaccine, but could
be minimized by booster doses of vaccine after the end of the usual dosage
series.
Preparation of rabies immune globulin of human origin
with adequate potency was reported by Cabasso et al.8 In carefully controlled
clinical studies, this globulin was used in conjunction with rabies vaccine of
duck-embryo origin (DEV).8,9 These studies determined that a human
globulin dose of 20 IU/kg of rabies antibody, given simultaneously with the
first DEV dose, resulted in amply detectable levels of passive rabies antibody
24 hours after injection in all recipients. The injections produced minimal, if
any, interference with the subject's endogenous antibody response to DEV.
More recently, human diploid cell rabies vaccines (HDCV)
prepared from tissue culture fluids containing rabies virus have received
substantial clinical evaluation in Europe and the United States.10-16
In a study in adult volunteers, the administration of Rabies Immune Globulin
(Human) did not interfere with antibody formation induced by HDCV when given in
a dose of 20 IU per kilogram body weight simultaneously with the first dose of
vaccine.15
In a clinical study in eight healthy human adults
receiving a 20 IU/kg intramuscular dose of Rabies Immune Globulin (Human) treated
with solvent/detergent, HyperRAB S/D, detectable passive rabies antibody
titers were observed in the serum of all subjects by 24 hours post injection
and persisted through the 21 day study period. These results are consistent
with prior studies17,18 with non-solvent/detergent treated product.
REFERENCES
1. Baltazard M, Bahmanyar M, Ghodssi M, et al: Essai
pratique du sérum antirabique chez les mordus par loups enragés. Bull WHO 13:747-72,
1955.
2. Habel K, Koprowski H: Laboratory data supporting the
clinical trial of antirabies serum in persons bitten by a rabid wolf. Bull WHO 13:773-9,
1955.
3. Selimov M, Boltucij L, Semenova E, et al: [The use of
antirabies gamma globulin in subjects severely bitten by rabid wolves or other
animals.] J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol (Praha) 3:168-80, 1959.
4. Atanasiu P, Bahmanyar M, Baltazard M, et al: Rabies
neutralizing antibody response to different schedules of serum and vaccine
inoculations in non-exposed persons. Bull WHO 14:593-611, 1956.
5. Atanasiu P, Bahmanyar M, Baltazard M, et al: Rabies
neutralizing antibody response to different schedules of serum and vaccine
inoculations in non-exposed persons: Part II. Bull WHO 17:911-32, 1957.
6. Atanasiu P, Cannon DA, Dean DJ, et al: Rabies
neutralizing antibody response to different schedules of serum and vaccine innoculations
in non-exposed persons: Part 3. Bull WHO 25:103-14, 1961.
7. Atanasiu P, Dean DJ, Habel K, et al: Rabies
neutralizing antibody response to different schedules of serum and vaccine inoculations
in non-exposed persons: Part 4. Bull WHO 36:361-5, 1967.
8. Cabasso VJ, Loofbourow JC, Roby RE, et al: Rabies
immune globulin of human origin: preparation and dosage determination in
non-exposed volunteer subjects. Bull WHO 45:303-15, 1971.
9. Loofbourow JC, Cabasso VJ, Roby RE, et al: Rabies
immune globulin (human): clinical trials and dose determination. JAMA 217(13):
1825-31, 1971.
10. Plotkin SA: New rabies vaccine halts disease —
without severe reactions. Mod Med 45(20):45-8, 1977.
11. Plotkin SA, Wiktor TJ, Koprowski H, et al:
Immunization schedules for the new human diploid cell vaccine against rabies. Am
J Epidemiol 103(1):75-80, 1976.
12. Hafkin B, Hattwick MA, Smith JS, et al: A comparison
of a WI-38 vaccine and duck embryo vaccine for preexposure rabies prophylaxis. Am
J Epidemiol 107(5):439-43, 1978.
13. Kuwert EK, Marcus I, Höher PG: Neutralizing and
complement-fixing antibody responses in pre- and post-exposure vaccinees to a
rabies vaccine produced in human diploid cells. J Biol Stand 4(4):249-62, 1976.
14. Grandien M: Evaluation of tests for rabies antibody
and analysis of serum responses after administration of three different types
of rabies vaccines. J Clin Microbiol 5(3):263-7, 1977.
15. Kuwert EK, Marcus I, Werner J, et al:
Postexpositionelle Schutzimpfung des Menschen gegen Tollwut mit einer neu-entwickelten
Gewebekulturvakzine (HDCS-Impfstoff). Zentralbl Bakteriol [A] 239(4):437-58,
1977.
16. Bahmanyar M, Fayaz A, Nour-Salehi S, et al:
Successful protection of humans exposed to rabies infection: postexposure treatment
with the new human diploid cell rabies vaccine and antirabies serum. JAMA 236(24):2751-4,
1976.
17. American Hospital Formulary Service. Drug
Information. Section 80:04. Rabies immune globulin. Bethesda, American Society
for Health-Systems Pharmacy, 1997, p. 2545-7.
18. Rubin RH, Sikes RK, Gregg MB: Human rabies immune
globulin. Clinical trials and effects on serum anti-globulins. JAMA 224:871-4,
1973.
19. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP): Rabies prevention—United States, 1999. MMWR 48
(RR-1):1-21, 1999.