title: Successful treatment of refractory systemic lupus erythematosus with intravenous immunoglobulins.
abstract: Two cases of refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg). In Case 1, the immediate recovery from severe pancytopenia and the improvement of proteinuria were observed, following IVIg therapy in high doses (450 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days. In Case 2, 3 courses of IVIg therapy (100 mg/kg) for 6 to 8 days resulted in a significant reduction of massive proteinuria. In both cases, the improvement of immunological variables was also seen.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mayumi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yokota
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oochi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kusaba
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000209:etiology; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000209:etiology