Authors: Kabura, L.¹; Ilibagiza, D.²; Menten, J.³; Van den Ende, J.

Source: Tropical Medicine & International Health, Volume 11, Number 7, July 2006 , pp. 1075-1081(7)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Summary Background 

Mortality caused by tetanus is still a serious health problem in developing countries. Apart from immunization, early treatment with equine antitetanus serum (ATS) or human tetanus immunoglobulin (TIG) is the real treatment that can avoid death. On pathophysiological grounds intrathecal administration would be preferred because of high concentrations of the antiserum in cerebrospinal fluid and thus around the nerve roots. Many studies concluded on its effectiveness whereas others did not find any superiority of this method. However, most of those studies were not random and/or had no sufficient weight. Objective 

To assess the efficacy of intrathecal therapy with ATS in neonates and adults. Methods 

Meta-analysis: Clinical trials were identified by searching Medline, the Cochrane library and Current Contents. Published randomized studies in English or French comparing intrathecal therapy and intramuscular therapy (IMS) were analysed with Revman, R, and Stata software. Treatment effects were evaluated by relative risk (RR) between intrathecal vs. intramuscular administration. Results 

A total of 942 patients were included in 12 trials, 484 in the intrathecal group and 458 in the intramuscular one. The combined RR of mortality for intrathecal vs. IMS was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.62-0.81). The superiority of intrathecal therapy also emerged when the analysis was performed in subcategories of both adults and neonates and for high and low dose of intrathecal serotherapy. Conclusion 

Intrathecal administration of ATS or TIG is more beneficial than intramuscular administration in the treatment of tetanus.

Keywords: tetanus; intrathecal; equine tetanus antitoxin; human antitetanus immunoglobulin

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2006.01659.x

Affiliations: 1:  Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Hospital Centre of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda 2:  Paediatrics, University Hospital Centre of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda 3:  Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium

Publication date: 2006-07-01

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