Fibrosis regression induced by intravenous gammaglobulin treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To review case histories of patients in whom fibrosis played a significant role in the pathogenesis of their disease, and to determine whether intravenous gammaglobulin (IVIg) contributed to the regression of their fibrotic condition.


METHODS
Eight patients with excess fibrotic reaction in the course of diverse diseases were analysed; a tendency that reverted with different IVIg treatment options. Myelofibrosis was predominant in three patients (a patient with a myeloproliferative syndrome, one with systemic lupus erythematosus, and one with Sjögren's syndrome). Three patients had scleroderma as their main feature, one patient had hepatitis C cirrhosis, and one had idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.


RESULTS
Fibrotic excess was reduced in all the patients by IVIg treatment. In five patients the disease as a whole benefited from the infusion of immunoglobulins.


CONCLUSIONS
IVIg may enhance resorption of fibrosis and promote healing in patients with fibrotic associated disorders.
Amital
H
H
Research Unit of Autoimmune Diseases and Department of Medicine B, Sheba Medical Centre, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
Rewald
E
E
Levy
Y
Y
Bar-Dayan
Y
Y
Manthorpe
R
R
Engervall
P
P
Sherer
Y
Y
Langevitz
P
P
Shoenfeld
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000628:therapy; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous