Intravenous immunoglobulin in rheumatic disease.
With the advent of numerous commercial preparations of intravenous immunoglobulin preparations since 1981, it is now possible to administer these preparations in significant quantities to cause elevation of serum immunoglobulin levels both in patients with antibody-deficient states and in those with normal circulating immunoglobulin levels. This led to a report of dramatic improvement of thrombocytopenia in a child with agammaglobulinemia following the use of intravenous immunoglobulin preparations for recurrent infections, and further studies in both children and adults with associated symptoms suggested therapeutic efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin preparations in controlling autoimmune symptoms.
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA.
L W
LW
Klassen
L H
LH
Calabrese
R M
RM
Laxer
D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000628:therapy*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000628:therapy*
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous