Hepatitis A immunoglobulin is a serum containing antibodies that can fight the hepatitis A virus, given through an injection. It can be used as a protective measure for those at risk of infection or as a treatment for those already infected. The serum is made from human blood plasma and the protection lasts only one to two months, while the hepatitis A vaccine can last up to 20 years.
Hepatitis A immunoglobulin is a serum given to a patient through an intramuscular injection that contains antibodies that can fight the hepatitis A virus. The immunoglobulin can be given to those who are at risk of hepatitis A infection to prevent them from becoming infected. It can also be given to those who are already infected, within a certain time frame, to fight the hepatitis A virus.
This immunoglobulin is made from human blood plasma obtained from people who have had the hepatitis A virus. The plasma is ‘pooled’ and prepared in such a way that the viruses are inactivated but the antibodies that were fighting the virus survive. The solution is then sterilized and made into a serum that contains a high concentration of active hepatitis A antibodies and no hepatitis A viruses. This serum is then injected into the patient’s muscle tissue, transferring the hepatitis A antibodies to the body.
For people at immediate risk of acquiring a hepatitis A infection, such as from an infected person at home or at work, hepatitis A immunoglobulin may be given as a protective measure. People planning to travel to areas where infection is possible can also have an injection of hepatitis A immunoglobulin to protect them after arriving at their destination. The protection offered by immunoglobulin for hepatitis A lasts only one to two months after administration.
Hepatitis A immunoglobulin can also be used to treat people who have already been infected with or come into contact with the hepatitis A virus but have not yet been diagnosed with the infection. However, the effectiveness of treatment depends on how long it is given after exposure to the hepatitis A virus. If given within two weeks of contact or infection, treatment can be highly effective. Hepatitis A immunoglobulin is the treatment of choice for patients who have come into direct household or sexual contact with an infected person but have not yet begun to show symptoms of hepatitis A.
In 1995, a new hepatitis A vaccine was licensed for general use. This vaccine was created by adapting cells to hepatitis A and growing them in a culture. When used as a protective measure, the hepatitis A vaccine is expected to last up to 20 years, compared to one to two months for hepatitis A immunoglobulin. Thus, the vaccine is the most widely used method of protection, although hepatitis A immunoglobulin remains the treatment of choice for those who are already, or likely to be infected with the hepatitis A virus.
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