title: Intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of autoimmune bullous dermatoses: an update.
abstract: High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is being increasingly utilized as an off-label therapy for a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions across various specialties. Numerous reports have shown that it is an effective treatment for autoimmune skin blistering disorders. Unlike most therapies for blistering disorders, IVIg is not immunosuppressive and has a favorable side effect profile. This has allowed its use to expand dramatically over the last decade. However, due to the rarity and severity of autoimmune skin blistering diseases, well-designed prospective trials are generally lacking. This work highlights major research developments and the best evidence to date regarding the treatment of autoimmune pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, mucous membrane pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, pemphigoid gestationis, and linear IgA dermatosis with IVIg, providing an update on its efficacy, proposed mechanisms of action, side effect profile, and indications for use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2400, USA. aczernik@hs.uci.edu
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Czernik
authors.forename: Siavash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toosi
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bystryn
authors.forename: Sergei A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Grando
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous