Combined plasmapheresis and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in systemic sclerosis for 12 months: follow-up of immunopathological and clinical effects.
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease which involves the skin, as well as several internal organs. Most therapies available in this disease are symptomatic. Authors present a case of diffuse SSc with progressive disease not responding to currently available treatments. Therefore a 12-month protocol of repeated plasmapheresis and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin treatment was administered with good clinical efficacy. Apart from monitoring the clinical symptoms throughout the treatment, authors also assessed a number of humoral and cellular immunolaboratory markers in order to obtain information on the immunomodulatory effects of this combined treatment in SSc.
Szekanecz
Zoltán
Z
Department of Rheumatology, University of Debrecen Medical Center, 22 Moricz street, Debrecen 4004, Hungary. szekanecz@iiibel.dote.hu
Aleksza
Magdolna
M
Antal-Szalmás
Péter
P
Soltész
Pál
P
Veres
Katalin
K
Szántó
Sándor
S
Szabó
Zoltán
Z
Végvári
Anikó
A
Szamosi
Szilvia
S
Lakos
Gabriella
G
Sipka
Sándor
S
Szegedi
Gyula
G
Varga
John
J
Szücs
Gabriella
G
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous