title: Combined plasmapheresis and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in systemic sclerosis for 12 months: follow-up of immunopathological and clinical effects.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University of Debrecen Medical Center, 22 Moricz street, Debrecen 4004, Hungary. szekanecz@iiibel.dote.hu
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szekanecz
authors.forename: Magdolna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aleksza
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Antal-Szalmás
authors.forename: Pál
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soltész
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Veres
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szántó
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: Anikó
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Végvári
authors.forename: Szilvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szamosi
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lakos
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sipka
authors.forename: Gyula
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szegedi
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szücs
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous