Case Reports on the Use of Intravenous Immunoglobulins (IVIG) in the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Abstract

Introduction: This work represents a preliminary study of the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus with a commercially available intravenous immunoglobulin. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of this product in three patients aged 16, 34 and 49 diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus at the Internal Medicine Service of “Freire de Andrade” Hospital, Cuba. Case report summary: The patients had a history of treatment with several drugs, including immunesuppressants. However recurrent respiratory tract infections, skin rash as well as several immunological abnormalities were present. Intravenous immunoglobulin (5-10 g/day) was given intravenously during five consecutive days, in the absence of other types of immunotherapy. An immunological profile before and after the intravenous immunoglobulin therapy was performed. In addition the patients were clinically evaluated using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score. The intravenous immunoglobulin therapy was highly effective in all patients due to its immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating and antimicrobial properties. It also prevented some of the frequent complications associated with the traditional immunotherapy in systemic lupus erythematosus. Conclusion: We recommend new clinical studies on large group of patients to establish the efficacy and side effects of intravenous immunoglobulin as a first line therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus.