Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) is a human

immunoglobulin An antibody (Ab) or immunoglobulin (Ig) is a large, Y-shaped protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily which is used by the immune system to identify and neutralize antigens such as pathogenic bacteria, bacteria and viruses, includin ...

that is used to prevent the development of

hepatitis B Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by the '' hepatitis B virus'' (HBV) that affects the liver; it is a type of viral hepatitis. It can cause both acute and chronic infection. Many people have no symptoms during an initial infection. ...

and is used for the treatment of acute exposure to HBsAg.

Medical uses

HBIG is indicated as a postexposure prophylaxis for people at risk to develop hepatitis B because they have been recently exposed to

body fluid Body fluids, bodily fluids, or biofluids, sometimes body liquids, are liquids within the Body (biology), body of an organism. In lean healthy adult men, the total body water is about 60% (60–67%) of the total Human body weight, body weight; it ...

s of individuals who have hepatitis B. This includes babies of mothers with hepatitis B, sexual partners, healthcare workers, police and fire workers, and morticians. It provides a temporarily induced immunity by the transfer of

s. HBIG is given by either intramuscular (IM) or intravenous (IV) route, depending on the preparation. Side effects include allergic reactions, back pain, general feeling of discomfort, headaches, muscle pain, nausea, and pain or bleeding at the injection site. Allergy to human immunoglobulin is a contraindication. HIV has never been transmitted by HBIG. As with all blood-derived products, the transmission of

prion A prion () is a Proteinopathy, misfolded protein that induces misfolding in normal variants of the same protein, leading to cellular death. Prions are responsible for prion diseases, known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSEs), w ...

s is possible as a residual risk.

Concomitant vaccination

HBIG should be given within 14 days of exposure to the hepatitis B virus. The half-life of HBIG is about 3 weeks. In lieu of a booster administration of HBIG, a hepatitis B vaccination is initiated at the time of the initial HBIG administration, thus providing long term protection. HBIG is classified as

pregnancy category The pregnancy category of a medication is an assessment of the risk of fetal injury due to the pharmaceutical, if it is used as directed by the mother during pregnancy. It does ''not'' include any risks conferred by pharmaceutical agents or their ...

C substance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Preparation

HBIG is prepared from the plasma of donors who have high

antibody An antibody (Ab) or immunoglobulin (Ig) is a large, Y-shaped protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily which is used by the immune system to identify and neutralize antigens such as pathogenic bacteria, bacteria and viruses, includin ...

levels of the hepatitis B surface antigen. It is extracted from the Cohn fraction II. During the process, viruses are deactivated, and in the final steps, solvents used in the preparation are removed. The preparation is tested for absence of HIV, HCV, herpes virus, and reovirus.

Brand names

* Bayhep B * HepaGam B (US market; intravenous preparation) * HyperHEP B (US market; intramuscular preparation) * Nabi-HB * Nabi-HB NovaPlus * Zutectra (EU)

References

External links