Effect of high doses intravenous IgG in newly diagnosed diabetic children.

: A controlled trial was carried out on type I diabetic children in order to evaluate the clinical effect of high doses intravenous gammaglobulins (i.v. IgG). Twenty newly diagnosed patients were admitted to the trial, ten of whom received 400 mg/kg body weight of i.v. IgG on 5 consecutive alternate days and subsequently after 15 days and monthly thereafter for up to six months, while ten patients served as controls. Insulin requirement in the treated and untreated groups was essentially similar at the start of the trial (0.94 +/- 0.47 vs 1.11 +/- 0.28) but showed a statistically significant difference at 3 (0.40 +/- 0.28 vs 0.66 +/- 0.26), 6 (0.36 +/- 0.19 vs 0.63 +/- 0.27) and 9 (0.38 +/- 0.20 vs 0.62 +/- 0.25) months. The difference was still evident at 12 months but no longer reached statistical significance. The reduced requirement of insulin was accompanied by a parallel increase in the C-peptide serum levels. Lymphocyte subpopulations, C3 and C4 and immune-complex levels did not show any significant modification after i.v. IgG administration.