Meningitis and Hepatitis Complicating Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To report a case of concomitant meningitis and hepatitis complicating the use of intravenous immune globulin (IVIG).

CASE SUMMARY:

A 39-year-old African-American woman with an autoimmune syndrome developed both acute meningitis and hepatitis following administration of IVIG. These resolved over several days and left no sequellae.

DISCUSSION:

This represents the first case of concomitant acute meningitis and hepatitis associated with IVIG. Thorough microbiologic and serologic evaluation of the patient failed to demonstrate an infectious etiology. We postulate that our patient's syndrome resulted from direct toxicity of IVIG.

CONCLUSIONS:

Both acute meningitis and hepatitis may simultaneously complicate IVIG therapy. The specific mechanism remains unclear.