title: [Intravenous IgG for treatment of neuromuscular diseases].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Highly purified IgG administered intravenously (IVIG) is used to treat many neurological diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review is based on articles identified through a search in PubMed and the authors' knowledge and experience within the field.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effect of IVIG has been best documented in the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, multifocal motor neuropathy and acute exacerbation of myasthenia gravis. Some smaller studies support explorative IVIG treatment in other neurological diseases such as Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, paraproteinemic neuropathy, neuropathy caused by vasculitis, inflammatory myopathies and stiff-person syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IVIG affects the immune system in different ways. Documentation for the effect of such treatment in most neurological diseases remains sparse.
authors.affiliation: Nevrologisk avdeling, Haukeland universitetssykehus, 5021 Bergen, Norway. christian.vedeler@helse-bergen.no
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Vedeler
authors.forename: Svein Ivar
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Mellgren
authors.forename: Roald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Omdal
authors.forename: Torberg
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Torbergsen
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aasly
mesh_terms: D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous