Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is an immune-mediated disorder characterized by slowly progressive asymmetrical limb weakness. Treatment with immunoglobulins (IVIg) leads to improvement of muscle strength. Anecdotal evidence suggests that immunosuppressive drugs as adjunctive therapy may be beneficial. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a potent and safe immunosuppressant. Safety and efficacy of ...

We have studied the response to intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) by a transcriptomic approach in 11 chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) patients (CIDP duration = 6 [0.83-6.5] years). RNA was extracted from cells in whole blood collected before and 3 weeks after IVIg treatment, and hybridized on Illumina chips. After RNA quality controls, gene expression was analyz...

The clinical benefit of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) preparations in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is supposed to be mediated by blockade of Fc gamma receptor--bearing phagocytes. In 2 experimental models for ITP, it is shown that the therapeutic efficacy of IVIG preparations is related to the IgG dimer content present in these preparations. A rat monoclonal antibo...

OBJECTIVES To investigate the long-term effects of megadoses of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in a small cohort of patients with relapsing primary APS resistant to conventional treatments. METHODS Five primary APS patients, 4 women, mean age 45.1 years (range 31-76 years), were considered eligible for IVIG therapy due to relapsing thrombotic events (4 recurrent venous thromboses, 2 ischae...

BACKGROUND Childhood immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a common acquired bleeding disorder. Even though most children recover, either spontaneously or with therapy, 10-20% of newly diagnosed ITP cases have a chronic course beyond 12 months. This study evaluated whether clinical and laboratory findings can predict the response to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and progression to persis...

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) products from different pharmaceutical companies vary in composition, in part because of the selected blood donors and production process. N-glycosylation of the Fc-portion of IgG varies between blood donors and may influence both the side-effects and therapeutic effectiveness of IVIg. At present, the variation in Fc N-glycosylation between IVIg products has no...

Natural Killer (NK) cells are part of our innate immune system with regulatory and effector functions. Different studies suggest that treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) has an immunomodulatory effect on NK cells. IVIg is a first-line treatment for various autoimmune diseases in particular in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). The lack of predictive markers ...

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) has been proven most effective in treating Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Corticosteroids as an add-on therapy have been prescribed in severe GBS cases. However, the efficacy of intravenous corticosteroids combined with IVIg in dealing with severe GBS remains unclear. We explored the therapeutic effects of different therapeutic regimens on the short-term progno...

BACKGROUND Children with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) have increased susceptibility to infections. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the role of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement therapy on the clinical outcome of patients with CVID. METHODS We studied children diagnosed with CVID and treated with IVIG (500 mg/kg every 3 weeks). RESULTS The study population comprised 29 childr...

BACKGROUND Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is an acquired immune-mediated inflammatory disorder that targets the myelin sheaths of the peripheral nervous system. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is a blood product containing immunoglobulin G pooled from many human donors. In fall 2008, CIDP became an approved indication for IVIg in the United States and Canada....