From black magic to science: understanding the rationale for the use of intravenous immunoglobulin to treat inflammatory myopathies

Infliximab is effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis with dermatomyositis: A case report

“…We gave the patient an IV injection of gamma globulin as an adjuvant therapy before the first infliximab treatment to control disease progression. Gamma globulin can be used in patients with IBD[ 30 ] and refractory DM who cannot respond to hormones and immunosuppressive drugs effectively[ 31 ]. The patient remained stable in the follow-up treatment with infliximab and mesalazine alone.…”

Immunomodulation of autoimmune diseases by high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins

“…However, the underlying pathogenesis of distinct autoimmune disease may challenge a selected mechanism, which probably differs from one disease to another, and even between subgroups of patients within a similar disease spectrum [50]. A better knowledge of these mechanisms should allow a more rational definition of diseases likely to benefit from this safe but extremely costly thera-…”

Successful treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins in a patient affected by dermatomyositis/systemic lupus erythematosus overlap syndrome and tuberculosis

“…Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) are a useful therapeutic tool in some autoimmune diseases and according to Dalakas [1] and others [2] they represent an effective 3rd choice therapy in DM after high-dose prednisone (1st choice) or azathioprine/methotrexate (2nd choice) failure. The patient here described was affected by active dermatomyositis (DM)/ systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) overlap syndrome, but the introduction of immunosuppressive therapy was strongly contra-indicated by the contemporary presence of active tuberculosis (TB), thus creating the chance for using IVIG.…”