Meta-analysis of passive immunoprophylaxis in paediatric patients at risk of severe RSV infection.

Aim:  To review respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), passive immunoprophylaxis (PI) trials and meta-analysis (MA). Methods:  A literature review. Results:  Two MA of PI were found. Overall 3927 patients were randomized. PI reduces RSV hospitalization in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (RR 0.58; 95% CI 0.41, 0.82) and with acyanotic congenital heart disease (RR 0.29; 95% CI 0.14, 0.62). In patients with cyanotic heart disease or premature infants without bronchopulmonary dysplasia, results are inconclusive. Passive immunoprophylaxis has a null effect in mechanical ventilation and death. Conclusion:  Passive immunoprophylaxis reduces RSV hospitalization in a subset of patients. However, it has no effect in harder endpoints of RSV disease severity.