Monoclonal antibodies to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection

Examples

Generic Name	Brand Name
palivizumab	Synagis

How It Works

Palivizumab stops respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from reproducing. This medicine contains antibodies that are produced in the laboratory.

Why It Is Used

Palivizumab is used to prevent RSV infection. It is primarily used for children who have a high risk of developing complications, such as those with chronic lung disease or heart problems. If your baby was born early or has health problems, talk to your doctor about the need to prevent RSV.

If palivizumab does not prevent a child from becoming infected with RSV, it may make the illness less severe. This reduces the child's chance of having complications, such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

How Well It Works

Monthly administration of palivizumab during the RSV season results in a 45% to 55% decrease in the hospitalization rate from RSV-related illnesses.¹ Children with chronic lung disease or heart disease were shown to have fewer hospital stays and fewer stays in intensive care when they were given preventive treatment with monoclonal antibody (palivizumab) or with RSV-IGIV.² (RSV-IGIV is another type of antibody used to prevent RSV in high-risk babies. It is not used as often as monoclonal antibody.)

Palivizumab does not decrease how often children get other illnesses, such as ear infections.

Side Effects

Palivizumab may cause pain at the site where the medicine was given.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

If your baby or child has a high risk of a serious RSV infection or has previously been given RSV-IGIV, talk to your health professional about whether your child needs palivizumab.

Palivizumab is replacing the use of RSV-IGIV in most children. Palivizumab has several advantages:

• It can be injected into a muscle rather than into a vein (intravenously).
• It does not interfere with the regular immunization schedule.
• It has fewer side effects.

Palivizumab is given as an injection in a doctor's office. It is given every month during RSV season, usually the 5 to 6 months from late fall to early spring.

Preventive treatment with palivizumab should continue throughout the RSV season, regardless of whether a child gets RSV. Different strains of RSV can circulate within a community during the same year, so treatment may still offer protection.

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Author:	Amy Fackler, MA Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: August 9, 2006
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
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