title: Intravenous immunoglobulin and autoimmune disease.
abstract: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) has been found to have a multitude of uses. However, IVIg is a pooled blood product and as a result a limited resource. At replacement doses (200-400 mg/kg/month) it is of critical utility in the treatment of primary and secondary antibody deficiencies. High-dose immunoglobulin (hdIVIg) given at doses of up to 2 g/kg/day has immunomodulatory action mediated via a number of different effects. First used in the 1980s for the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, hdIVIg has found uses in a wide range of autoimmune conditions, though for many conditions the evidence base lacks formal randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This article will detail the issues regarding the manufacture and clinical aspects of administration of hdIVIg and its uses, especially with regards to the treatment of autoimmune disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Immunology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XW, Wales, U.K. Tariq.El-shanawany@CardiffandVale.wales.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Tariq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: El-Shanawany
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jolles
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007167:Immunotherapy
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous