High-dose intravenous human immunoglobulin in polymyositis resistant to treatment.
Two patients were treated with treatment-resistant polymyositis with intravenous immunoglobulin over four days at a dose of 0.4 g/kg/day. Clinical recovery followed within two months. Serum creatine kinase (CK) activity decreased to normal, and a clear improvement in muscle strength was observed. One patient showed neither clinical relapses nor increase in serum CK activity after 20 months. The other showed a mild increase in serum CK activity after 24 months and was successfully retreated with intravenous immunoglobulin. There were no significant adverse side effects.
Institute of Neurology, University of Milan, Policlinico Hospital, Italy.
S
S
Jann
S
S
Beretta
M
M
Moggio
L
L
Adobbati
G
G
Pellegrini
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D009220:Myositis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D012026:Reflex, Stretch / Q000502:physiology; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005719:gamma-Globulins; C031151:pepsinated immunoglobulin G; D003402:Creatine Kinase