title: Intravenous human immunoglobulin for treatment of folliculitis decalvans.
abstract: We report a case of folliculitis decalvans (FD) successfully treated with intravenous human immunoglobulin (HIG). Many conventional treatments with topical agents and oral antibiotics had failed to achieve disease remission, treatment with HIG at a dose of 2 g/kg for the first month, reduced to 1 g/kg for second to fourth months was therefore started, which resulted in rapid improvement and ultimately complete resolution of FD. Clinical improvement was noted after the first infusion of HIG and remission of inflammation was achieved after the fourth infusion. Disease remission was sustained for six months following the last HIG infusion. The exact mechanism of action of HIG is poorly understood. However, it is thought to act as an immunomodulatory agent by altering different components of immune functions. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature of FD successfully treated with intravenous HIG.
authors: a Department of Dermatology , Beaumont Hospital , Dublin , Ireland.
authors: Nuriah
authors: N
authors: Ismail
authors: a Department of Dermatology , Beaumont Hospital , Dublin , Ireland.
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Ralph
authors: a Department of Dermatology , Beaumont Hospital , Dublin , Ireland.
authors: Gillian
authors: G
authors: Murphy
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000628:therapy; D005499:Folliculitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors
keywords: Cicatricial alopecia; IVIG; folliculitis decalvans; human immunoglobulin; scarring alopecia