title: [Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in autoimmune diseases].
abstract: Our experience with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in autoimmune diseases is reported. In 16 subjects with polymyositis and dermatomyositis, IVIg has been given in case of steroid resistance or dependency. Subjects treated with IVIg achieved a clinical and functional remission in a higher percentage (81%), that was maintained after a mean five year follow-up period (p < 0.001), as compared to control group. In twelve subjects with new-onset Churg-Strauss disease, IVIg was added to standard treatment. In these patients, IVIg permitted to achieve a long-term stable remission with a good functional recovery with lower incidence of the steroid-associated side effects. In conclusion, IVIg can be safely employed in subjects with immune-mediated diseases, even in those with severe and refractory disease.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona. m.g.danieli@univpm.it
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Danieli
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calcabrini
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: Vincenzina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pettinari
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Massaccesi
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gabrielli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Danieli
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous