Efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in a case of autoimmune-mediated chronic active hepatitis.
In a patient suffering from histologically-documented immuno-mediated chronic active hepatitis, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment was initiated as an obligatory alternative therapy because of femur head aseptic necrosis which had followed long-term therapy with steroids. The first cycle of IVIG was followed by remission of most symptoms, normalization of liver enzymes, disappearance of circulating immunecomplexes (CIC), and a negative lupus band test. Improvement in the patient's condition was demonstrated, in liver histology, by the disappearance of peri-portal mononuclear cells infiltrates, while immunohistochemistry showed the disappearance of the intracellular IgG deposits.
Carmassi
F
F
Institute of Clinical Medicine 2, University of Pisa, Italy.
Morale
M
M
Puccetti
R
R
Pistelli
F
F
Palla
R
R
Bevilacqua
G
G
Viacava
P
P
Antonelli
A
A
Mariani
G
G
D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000592:standards*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous