title: [Intravenously-administered immunoglobulins as first-choice agent in juvenile dermatomyositis].
abstract: Dermatomyositis is an acquired disease characterised by symmetric predominantly proximal muscle weakness of the arms and legs, and misery. It may be associated with myalgia and there is often a characteristic rash. The mainstay of therapy is corticosteroids. Recently efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in chronic refractory dermatomyositis was reported. Because corticosteroids can cause serious side effects, we treated a seven-year-old girl suffering from dermatomyositis with IVIg as initial therapy. After two courses of IVIg infusions at a dose of 0.4 g/kg/day for five consecutive days, the patient made a rapid and complete recovery. This case shows that IVIg may be effective as initial therapy in patients with dermatomyositis. Whether IVIg is really a better treatment than corticosteroids should be investigated in a randomised study.
authors.affiliation: Erasmus Universiteit, Faculteit der Geneeskunde en Gezondheidswetenschappen, Rotterdam.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Breems
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: de Haas
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Visscher
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Sabbe
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: van Doorn
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous