Low dose intravenous immunoglobulin in systemic lupus erythematosus: analysis of 62 cases.
BACKGROUND
Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease with diverse clinical manifestations that cannot always be regulated by steroids and immunosuppressive therapy. Intravenous immunoglobulin is an optional immunomodulatory agent for the treatment of SLE, but the appropriate indications for its use, duration of therapy and recommended dosage are yet to be established. In SLE patients, most publications report the utilization of a high dose (2 g/kg body weight) protocol.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether lower doses of IVIg are beneficial for SLE patients.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 62 patients who received low dose IVIg (approximately 0.5 g/kg body weight).


RESULTS
The treatment was associated with clinical improvement in many specific disease manifestations, along with a continuous decrease in SLEDAI scores (SLE Disease Activity Index). However, thrombocytopenia, alopecia and vasculitis did not improve following IVIg therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Low dose IVIg is a possible therapeutic option in SLE and is associated with lower cost than the high dose regimen and possibly fewer adverse effects.
Sherer
Yaniv
Y
Department of Medicine B and Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Kuechler
Sabine
S
Jose Scali
Juan
J
Rovensky
Josef
J
Levy
Yair
Y
Zandman-Goddard
Gisele
G
Shoenfeld
Yehuda
Y
D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005076:Exanthema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006417:Hematuria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors