title: Use of intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of immune-mediated demyelinating diseases of the nervous system.
abstract: Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) are used in treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases. Immunoglobulin replacement therapy is the standard treatment for immunodeficiencies with compromised humoural immunity. Use of this method as an immunomodulating therapy ranges from transplantation and treatment of autoimmune-haematological diseases to treatment of various neuroimmunological clinical entities. Limited quantitative availability due to dependence on human donors as a source of IVIg, coupled with high treatment costs, make necessary a highly responsible and evidence-based approach with these agents. Discussion of the indications and currently valid recommendations on use of IVIg in treatment of immunomediated demyelinating diseases of the nervous system is based on existing clinical studies. We describe further neurological indications for use of IVIg as well as mechanisms of action and adverse effects of its use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimer Straße 20, D-18147 Rostock, Germany. alexander.winkelmann@med.uni-rostock.de
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winkelmann
authors.forename: Uwe K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Zettl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D020278:Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016527:Drug Costs; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors