Neurol. praxi. 2011;12(6):398-402

Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for autoimmune neurological disorders

doc.MUDr.Peter Špalek, PhD.

Centrum pre neuromuskulárne ochorenia, Neurologická klinika SZU, FNsP Bratislava-Ružinov

Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) have been used for treating various neuroimmunological diseases. Over the past years their efficacy

could be demonstrated in placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trials. Use of IVIg has become the first-line treatment for

Guillain-Barré syndrome, multifocal motor neuropathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and rapidly worsening

myasthenia gravis. Furthermore, IVIg plays an important role as a second-line treatment in selected chronic treatment-refractory cases

of polymyositis, dermatomyositis, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, stiff-person syndrome, and also in postpartum-related relapses

of multiple sclerosis. IVIg is well tolerated, easily administered, and is often efficacious with a relatively rapid action. Due to an excellent

safety profile, IVIg has been used very liberally for most diseases with suspected autoimmune pathology or where there is no treatment

available. Therefore, IVIg should be principally used according to available data from controlled clinical trials. Here we review the clinical

applications and recommendations for the use of IVIg in autoimmune neurologic diseases.

sclerosis multiplex.

Keywords: intravenous immunoglobulin, Guillain-Barré syndrome, multifocal motor neuropathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, stiff-person syndrome,

Published: December 1, 2011  Show citation