title: Efficacy of early intravenous immunoglobulin for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis with drastically progressive neuropathy: a synopsis of two cases.
abstract: Two women, 66-year-old and 63-year-old, were admitted for drastically progressive neuropathy, and diagnosed with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Steroid pulse therapy failed to exert effect upon neuropathy, so we administered early intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for fear of immobilization of neuropathy. This resulted in marked improvement in neuropathy without apparent side effects. Recent evidence suggests the efficacy of IVIG for steroid refractory neuropathy associated with EGPA, but has previously been administered during the chronic phase resulting in slow improvement. Our two successfully treated cases indicate the efficacy of early IVIG in preventing the immobilization of neuropathy, especially in progressive cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Japan. t.matsumoto@kcho.jp
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Kojiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: Michi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.forename: Kazuma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tachikawa
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomii
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D004803:Eosinophilic Granuloma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055953:Microscopic Polyangiitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous