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[Current use of immunoglobulins in neurology :]
Nervenarzt. 2008 Aug 6
Cursiefen S, Mäurer M.
Neurologische Klinik mit Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Deutschland.
Intravenous
immunoglobulins (IVIg) have been used for treating various
neuroimmunological diseases. Over the past decade 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 (GBS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy,
multifocal motor neuropathy, and rapidly worsening myasthenia gravis.
It is also a second-line treatment for dermatomyositis, polymyositis,
stiff-person syndrome, and pregnancy- and postpartum-related relapses
in multiple sclerosis. Intravenous immunoglobulin is easily available,
its administration is uncomplicated, and it has an excellent safety
profile. In Germany it has been approved only for GBS; for other
indications it has to be used off-label. Here we review the clinical
applications and recommendations for the use of IVIg in neurological
diseases.
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