Treatment of rheumatic carditis with intravenous gammaglobulin: is there a beneficial effect?
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.
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Department of Pediatrics, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon.
Timani
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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*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D011239:Prednisolone