To investigate the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in the treatment of bronchiolitis in infants.

From June 2005 to August 2009, a total of 88 infants with bronchiolitis were enrolled in the study. By the method of randomized controlled trial, they were randomly divided into two groups according to visiting sequence, research group (n=42) and control group (n=46). Infants were all treated with routine programs. Research group also were treated by intravenous infusion with intravenous immunoglobulin 400 mg/(kg·d), 3-5 days. Based on the clinical experience, infants in research group were further divided into two groups according to time of accepting intravenous infusion with intravenous immunoglobulin: Early use of IVIG groups (n=20, patients whose disease course was≤5 days accepted IVIG) and late use of IVIG group (n=22, patients whose disease course was>5 days accepted IVIG). There were no significance between infants in research and control groups, and in early and late use of IVIG group among sexuality, age, and degree of bronchiolitis (P>0.05). The study protocol was approved by the Ethical Review Board of Investigation in Human Being of First People's Hospital of Longguanyi. Informed consent was obtained from the parents of each participating infant.

There were significant difference between research and control groups in duration of clinical symptoms in acute stage and in-hospital time (P<0.01). There were significant difference between early and late use of IVIG groups in duration of clinical symptoms in acute stage and in-hospital time (P<0.01). Adverse effect incidence rate of intravenous immunoglobulin in treating of bronchiolitis was low, only 4.8%(2/42).

Intravenous immunoglobulin has satisfactory therapeutic effect for treating bronchiolitis of infants and reducing recurrence and avoid forming asthma. It is worth popularizing and applied as soon as possible (the patient whose disease course was≤5 days accepted intravenous immunoglobulin).