title: [Therapeutic administration of immunoglobulins].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intravenously administered immunoglobulins have multiple modes of action that are anti-inflammatory. They can therefore be beneficial in a number of autoimmune disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this article is to analyze and summarize studies on the administration of intravenous immunoglobulins in rheumatological diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  A selective search and analysis of the literature was carried out related to the mode of action and efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulins in rheumatological diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravenous immunoglobulins have a broad mode of action and can therefore be beneficial in almost all autoimmune diseases. Conditions in which they are of special benefit include immunothrombopenia (ITP), Kawasaki disease and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. In rare situations, they may also be indicated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome and neuropathies, catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), scleroderma, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis, pyoderma gangrenosum and scleromyxedema. Severe adverse events are rare. In view of the high costs of the therapy, intravenous immunoglobulins are mostly applied in emergency situations, as salvage therapy when other standard therapies have failed or when severe infections are a contraindication to the administration of immunosuppressants.
authors: Klinik für Immunologie und Rheumatologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland. Witte.torsten@mh-hannover.de.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Witte
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007136:Immunoglobulins
keywords: Autoimmune disorders; Immunothrombocytopenia; Inflammation; Kawasaki syndrome; Salvage therapy