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.
Jann
S
S
Institute of Neurology, University of Milan, Policlinico Hospital, Italy.
Beretta
S
S
Moggio
M
M
Adobbati
L
L
Pellegrini
G
G
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