Prevention of severe RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infections in children at high risk of RSV infection: use of palivizumab

Borzakova S.N., Mikheeva A.A., Esmurzieva Z.I.

1) Research Institute for Healthcare Organization and Medical Management, Moscow Health Department, Moscow, Russia; 2) Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow, Russia; 3) Children’s City Clinical Hospital named after Z.A. Bashlyaeva, Moscow Health Department, Moscow, Russia; 4) Morozov Children’s City Clinical Hospital, Moscow Health Department, Moscow, Russia

Respiratory syncytial infection (RSVI) is one of the main causes of lower respiratory tract infections in children under 2 years of age. Children born before 35 weeks of gestation, children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, hemodynamically significant heart defects, and immunodeficiency states are at risk for severe RSVI. 
Currently, the most effective and safe method for preventing RSVI is immunization with palivizumab. Palivizumab contains monoclonal IgG1 antibodies against the F protein of the virus, which prevents the virus from attaching to respiratory epithelial cells and prevents severe RSVI. Five injections of palivizumab are required for effective immune protection.
Prophylaxis with palivizumab leads to a significant reduction in the incidence of RSVI after two years of follow-up and reduces the frequency and duration of episodes of bronchial obstruction during one year of follow-up.

For citations: Borzakova S.N., Mikheeva A.A., Esmurzieva Z.I. Prevention of severe RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infections in children at high risk of RSV infection: use of palivizumab. Pharmateca. 2025;32(9):49-53. (In Russ.). DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/pharmateca.2025.9.49-53

Authors’ contribution: All authors participated equally in the preparation of the publication: development of the article concept, obtaining and analyzing factual data, writing and editing the article text, checking and approving the article text.
Conflicts of interest: The authors confirm that they have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding: The study was conducted without any sponsorship.

Keywords

About the Authors

Svetlana N. Borzakova, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Research Institute for Healthcare Organization and Medical Management, Moscow Health Department; Children’s City Clinical Hospital named after Z.A. Bashlyaeva, Moscow Healthcare Department; Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow, Russia; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5544-204X, Scopus Author ID: 55883991400 (corresponding author)
Anna A. Mikheeva, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Research Institute for Healthcare Organization and Medical Management, Moscow Healthcare Department; Morozov Children’s City Clinical Hospital, Moscow Healthcare Department, Moscow, Russia; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9092-6453
Zareta I. Esmurzieva, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Morozov Children’s City Clinical Hospital, Moscow Healthcare Department, Moscow, Russia; ORCID:
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4806-4545

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