title: Clinical applications of immunoglobulin in neuromuscular diseases: focus on inflammatory myopathies.
abstract: During recent years, an increasing number of neuromuscular diseases have been recognized either to be caused primarily by autoimmune mechanisms, or to have important autoimmune components. The involved pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical manifestations have been better recognized and many of these disorders are potentially treatable by immunosuppression or by immunomodulation with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). IVIg has been tried in a variety of immune-mediated neurological diseases, being target of widespread use in central and peripheral nervous systems diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To give an overview of the main topics regarding the mechanism of action and different therapeutic uses of IVIg in neurological practice, mainly in neuromuscular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Doencas Neuromusculares, Departamento de Neurologia e Neurocirurgia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Victor Sgobbi de
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Doencas Neuromusculares, Departamento de Neurologia e Neurocirurgia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wladimir Bocca Vieira de Rezende
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Doencas Neuromusculares, Departamento de Neurologia e Neurocirurgia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Acary Souza Bulle
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009220:Myositis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors