Based on the available trials , the evidence does not support the administration of oral immunoglobulin for the prevention of NEC .
There are no r and omized controlled trials of oral IgA alone for the prevention of NEC
BACKGROUND Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) is the most common emergency involving the gastrointestinal tract occurring in the neonatal period .
There have been published reports that suggest that oral immunoglobulins (Ig)A and IgG produce an immunoprotective effect in the gastrointestinal mucosa .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of oral immunoglobulin on the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and other complications in preterm or low birth weight ( or both ) neonates .
Enteral human IgG for prevention of necrotising enterocolitis: a placebo-controlled, randomised trial
BACKGROUND Neonatal necrotising enterocolitis is a serious , commonly fatal disease in premature neonates . Although feeding with expressed breast milk and other good nursery practice s are partly protective , preventive measures are needed . Treating neonates enterally with a mixture of human IgA and IgG , prepared from donated blood , has been cl aim ed to protect against necrotising enterocolitis . However , no IgA preparation is available in Australia . Our aim , therefore , was to identify whether or not enteral IgG could prevent the disorder . METHODS We did a multicentre , double-blind , placebo- controlled trial . We r and omly assigned 768 infants to receive human IgG 1200 mg/kg daily , and 761 to receive placebo , for up to 28 days . Treatment began at the same time as enteral feeding . The primary outcome measure was the proportion of infants who developed definite necrotising enterocolitis during the trial , and any deaths that result ed from the disorder in the treatment and placebo groups . Analysis was on an intention-to-treat basis . FINDINGS 43 infants developed definite necrotising enterocolitis  in the IgG group , ten of whom died . In the placebo group , 41 infants contracted the disorder and six died ( p=0.47 ) . 25 infants on IgG and 36 on placebo had suspect necrotising enterocolitis ( p=0.14 ) . INTERPRETATION Supplementation of enteral feeds with human IgG does not reduce necrotising enterocolitis
Based on the available trials , the evidence does not support the administration of oral immunoglobulin for the prevention of NEC .
There are no r and omized controlled trials of oral IgA alone for the prevention of NEC
BACKGROUND Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) is the most common emergency involving the gastrointestinal tract occurring in the neonatal period .
There have been published reports that suggest that oral immunoglobulins (Ig)A and IgG produce an immunoprotective effect in the gastrointestinal mucosa .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of oral immunoglobulin on the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and other complications in preterm or low birth weight ( or both ) neonates .