Use of IgM-enriched intravenous immunoglobulin mixture in patients with severe burn: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

Burns, especially severe burns, can lead to extensive damage to the skin tissue, the body’s first defense barrier, resulting in serious damage to the body’s internal homeostasis, a decrease in immunity, and a large volume of necrotic wound tissue. These changes provide good conditions for the growth and reproduction of bacteria. In patients with severe burn injuries, both local and systemic immunoglobulin or antibody levels have been shown to be significantly decreased during the first 48 hours following burn injuries with serum levels remaining low for weeks in some patients predisposing them to multiple infections. Polyclonal Intravenous immunoglobulins, which have pleiotropic effects on inflammatory and immune mechanisms, represent a promising therapy to modulate both the pro- and anti-inflammatory processes as well as replenishing the humoral immunity and can contribute to the elimination of pathogens. It will be interesting to see whether administration of IgM-enriched Immunoglobulin mixture in severe burns can help in preventing development of sepsis by countering the immune response and reducing subsequent mortality which may have the potential in changing management protocol in burn patients in near future.