High-dose intravenous human immunoglobulin in polymyositis resistant to treatment

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1992 Jan;55(1):60-2. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.55.1.60.

Abstract

Two patients were treated with treatment-resistant polymyositis with intravenous immunoglobulin over four days at a dose of 0.4 g/kg/day. Clinical recovery followed within two months. Serum creatine kinase (CK) activity decreased to normal, and a clear improvement in muscle strength was observed. One patient showed neither clinical relapses nor increase in serum CK activity after 20 months. The other showed a mild increase in serum CK activity after 24 months and was successfully retreated with intravenous immunoglobulin. There were no significant adverse side effects.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Creatine Kinase / blood
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscles / physiopathology
  • Myositis / physiopathology
  • Myositis / therapy*
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Reflex, Stretch / physiology
  • gamma-Globulins / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • gamma-Globulins
  • pepsinated immunoglobulin G
  • Creatine Kinase