title: Treatment of rheumatic carditis with intravenous gammaglobulin: is there a beneficial effect?
abstract: Rheumatic carditis is a major manifestation of acute rheumatic fever. Conventional therapy includes the use of salicylates and steroids. To date, however, such therapy has not been proven to have a clear benefit in reducing valvar heart disease. We report the use of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin in two chidlren with acute rheumatic carditis in whom we have been able to document the beneficial effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Diab
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Timani
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Bitar
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D011239:Prednisolone