Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy for Refractory Myositis

• Published in: Internal Medicine Vol. 35; no. 8; pp. 663 - 667
• Main Authors: MORIGUCHI, Masato, SUZUKI, Takahiro, TATEISHI, Mutsuto, HARA, Masako, KASHIWAZAKI, Sadao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine 1996; Japanese Society of Internal Medicine
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cyclophosphamide - administration & dosage; dermatomyositis; Dermatomyositis - therapy; Diseases of striated muscles. Neuromuscular diseases; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous - therapeutic use; interstitial pneumonia; intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy; Medical sciences; Methylprednisolone - administration & dosage; Middle Aged; Myositis - therapy; Neurology; polymyositis; Polymyositis - therapy; Prednisolone - administration & dosage; Time Factors; Human; Immunopathology; Connective tissue disease; Skin disease; Immunoglobulins; Dermatomyositis; Autoimmune disease; Case study; Refractory; Striated muscle disease; Polymyositis; Treatment; Systemic disease
• ISSN: 0918-2918; 1349-7235
• DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.35.663

The efficacy of polyvalent intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG) was evaluated in three patients with refractory myositis. Patients refractory to conventional therapy, such as corticosteroid administration, corticosteroid or cyclophosphamide pulse therapy [2 with dermatomyositis (DM), 1 with polymyositis (PM)] were treated with IVIG (0.4 g/kg daily) for 5 days. Clinical improvement was apparent within 1-2 months after IVIG and persisted for 19-23 months (DM patients) and 12 months (PM patient). No adverse effects were observed. Thus, IVIG may be considered an effective therapy for refractory myositis. (Internal Medicine 35: 663-667, 1996)