High-dose intravenous immunoglobulins for the treatment of dermatological autoimmune diseases

The therapeutic uses of intravenous immunoglobulins in autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Immunoglobulins (antibodies) are plasma proteins produced by B cells, which are essential in the defence against bacterial and viral infections. Dysregulation of the immune system can lead to the formation of autoantibodies and subsequent autoimmune disease. Therapy with immunoglobulin was first studied in the late 19th century, when Von Behring and Kitasato showed that serum taken from rabbits...

Autoimmune neuropathies and treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins

Clinical utility of intravenous immunoglobulins in autoimmune diseases

Durante los últimos años, la utilización de las inmunoglobulinas endovenosas (Ig ev) se ha extendido desde las inmunodeficiencias primarias, a una serie de entidades clínicas como los procesos infecciosos, las enfermedades neurológicas inflamatorias y las enfermedades autoinmunes. Las Ig ev son una terapia bien tolerada, con pocos efectos adversos, aunque con un elevado coste económico. Aunque ...

Immunomodulatory effects of intravenous immunoglobulins as a treatment for autoimmune diseases, cancer, and recurrent pregnancy loss.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a safe preparation, made of human plasma of thousands of healthy donors. The fascinating history of gamma globulin therapy begins in 1930 when Finland treated pneumococcal pneumonia patients with equine serum, which prolonged their survival from pneumonia. Since then, significant breakthroughs were achieved by Cohn, Bruton, Imbach, and others, whose clinical...

Repeated treatment with high dose cyclophosphamide for severe autoimmune diseases.

High dose cyclophosphamide (HiCY) without stem cell rescue has been shown to induce remissions in patients with severe autoimmune disorders (SADS). However, up to 80% of these patients ultimately relapse. Here we review the outcomes of seven patients treated with two cycles and one patient treated with three cycles of HiCY. The diseases re-treated were scleroderma, multiple sclerosis, three pat...