title: Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for refractory recurrent pericarditis.
abstract: Recurrent pericarditis is a troublesome complication of idiopathic acute pericarditis and occurs more frequently in pediatric patients after cardiac surgery (postpericardiotomy syndrome). Conventional treatment with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and colchicine is not always effective or may cause serious adverse effects. There is no consensus, however, on how to proceed in those patients whose disease is refractory to conventional therapy. In such cases, human intravenous immunoglobulin, immunosuppressive drugs, and biological agents have been used. In this report we describe 2 patients with refractory recurrent pericarditis after cardiac surgery who were successfully treated with 3 and 5 monthly high-dose (2 g/kg) intravenous immunoglobulin until resolution of the effusion. Our experience supports the effectiveness and safety of this therapy.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Rheumatology Unit and m.rosadelfresno@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: del Fresno
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Julio E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Peralta
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Granados
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Rheumatology Unit and.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Enríquez
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Rheumatology Unit and.
authors.forename: Nerea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Pinilla
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Rheumatology Unit and.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Inocencio
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
keywords: child; intravenous immunoglobulins; pericardial effusion/therapy; recurrent pericarditis