title: The role of intravenous immunoglobulins in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) are beneficial and safe for various diseases other than primary immunodeficiencies. Over the years, IVIG has been given for autoimmune diseases as an off-label adjunct therapy. While other biologic agents are indicated for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), IVIG may have a role for specific subgroups of RA patients where anti-cytokine blockers or rituximab may be unwarranted. Such subgroups may include patients with vasculitis, overlap rhupus syndrome, severe infections with active disease, and pregnancy. In addition, IVIG may be considered for juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) and adult Still's disease. We review the literature for IVIG treatment in RA patients and for these subgroups.
authors: Department of Medicine C, Wolfson Medical Center, Israel.
authors: Nurit
authors: N
authors: Katz-Agranov
authors: Mount Sinai Hospital, Laboratory of Investigative Dermatology, Rockefeller University, NY, USA.
authors: Saakshi
authors: S
authors: Khattri
authors: Department of Medicine C, Wolfson Medical Center, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. Electronic address: goddard@wolfson.health.gov.il.
authors: Gisele
authors: G
authors: Zandman-Goddard
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
keywords: Adult Still's disease; IVIG; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rhupus syndrome; Severe infections; Vasculitis