title: Experience with monthly, high-dose, intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in patients with different connective tissue diseases.
abstract: We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety profile of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (HD-IVIG) therapy in patients with severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), inflammatory muscle disease (IMD), Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), and/or concurrent infection who failed to respond to standard therapies. We evaluated the records of eight patients with SLE, eight with IMD, and four with WG who were treated with HD-IVIG (2 g/kg per month for 1-12 months) for active disease in 19 patients and concurrent infection in three (mycobacterial in two with SLE and cytomegaloviral in one with WG). Systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) scores before and after HD-IVIG were statistically analysed. Remission was achieved in 14 cases (70%). The SLEDAI scores significantly decreased in patients with SLE (P=0.02). No serious side effect was observed. High-dose IVIG may be used as an adjunctive treatment in connective tissue diseases that do not respond to standard therapies or as alternative treatment for patients with concurrent severe infections or for whom immunosuppressives are contraindicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Division of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. sevilkamali@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sevil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamali
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cefle
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sayarlioglu
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inanc
authors.forename: Lale
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ocal
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aral
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Konice
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009220:Myositis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents