Intravenous immunoglobulins as treatment of severe cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa.

Abstract

We describe three patients with severe refractory cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa, resulting in painful ulcers involving the lower limbs and causing toe necrosis. Due to the severity of the cutaneous manifestations, the three patients received intravenous immunoglobulins at a dose of 1 g/kg/day for 2 days monthly. After the second intravenous immunoglobulin infusion, skin signs dramatically improved and completely healed after the third intravenous immunoglobulin infusion. Our findings indicate that intravenous immunoglobulins can be included in a therapeutic strategy to treat refractory cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa.

• Authors: I Marie, S Miranda, N Girszyn, J-C Soubrane, T Vandhuick, H Levesque
• Journal: Internal medicine journal (Intern Med J) Vol. 42 Issue 4 Pg. 459-62 (Apr 2012) ISSN: 1445-5994 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 22498120 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2012 The Authors. Internal Medicine Journal © 2012 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous (therapeutic use)
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polyarteritis Nodosa (drug therapy)
• Retrospective Studies
• Skin (pathology)
• Treatment Outcome