Use of high-dose immunoglobulins in dermatology.

Abstract

The treatment of severe autoimmune skin diseases and of toxic epidermal necrolysis (ICD: L51.2) with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) is an established therapeutic procedure in dermatology. As IVIg are usually only administered in rare autoimmune diseases or in particularly severe disease courses, use of immunoglobulins in dermatology is commonly not based on experience from controlled and randomized studies typically demanded by evidence-based medicine. In face of the rarity of indications for IVIg it is improbable that such studies will be performed in the foreseeable future. Further, as the high costs of IVIg treatment limits its use as first-line therapy, no clear guidelines exist yet on IVIg use in skin diseases. The present recommendation is based on a consensus of the Working Group on European Guidelines of the EDF (European Dermatology Forum) and the EADV (European Association of Dermato-Venereology) and should provide aid in decision making for the use of IVIg in treating dermatologic diseases

• Authors: Alexander Enk, Gerhard Fierlbeck, Lars French, Michael Hertl, Gerald Messer, Michael Meurer, Kerstin Steinbrink, Georg Stingl, Beatrice Volc-Platzer, Detlef Zillikens
• Journal: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG (J Dtsch Dermatol Ges) Vol. 7 Issue 9 Pg. 806-812 (Sep 2009) ISSN: 1610-0387 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 19624804 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulins

Topics

• Autoimmune Diseases (drug therapy)
• Decision Support Techniques
• Dermatology (standards)
• Germany
• Humans
• Immunoglobulins (administration & dosage)
• Practice Guidelines as Topic
• Prescriptions (standards)
• Skin Diseases (drug therapy)