Effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for skin disease other than toxic epidermal necrolysis: A retrospective review of Mayo Clinic experience

David A. Wetter, Mark Denis P. Davis, James A. Yiannias, Lawrence E. Gibson, Mark V. Dahl, Rokea A. El-Azhary, Alison J. Bruce, Donald P. Lookingbill, Iftikhar Ahmed, Arnold L. Schroeter, Mark R. Pittelkow

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine retrospectively the use and effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment of various skin diseases, primarily immunobullous disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We identified patients who had received IVIg therapy for skin disease between 1996 and 2003 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, Scottsdale, Ariz, and Jacksonville, Fla, and retrospectively reviewed their medical records. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were treated with IVIg for various skin diseases: Immunobullous disease in 11 adults (pemphigus vulgaris [7 patients], bullous pemphigoid [3], and cicatricial pemphigoid [1]); dermatomyositis (2); mixed connective tissue disease (1); chronic urticaria (1); scleromyxedema (1); leukocytoclastic vasculitis (1); and linear IgA bullous disease (1). Responses of patients by type of disease were as follows: pemphigus vulgaris, 1 partial response (PR) and 6 no response (NR); bullous pemphigoid, 1 complete response (CR) and 2 NR; cicatricial pemphigoid, 1 NR; dermatomyositis, 1 CR and 1 PR; mixed connective tissue disease, 1 CR; chronic urticaria, 1 CR; scleromyxedema, 1 CR; leukocytoclastic vasculitis, 1 PR; and linear IgA bullous disease, 1 CR. Six patients (33%) experienced CR, 3 (17%) had PR, and 9 (50%) had NR to IVIg therapy. All 9 non-responders were adult patients with immunobullous disease. CONCLUSION: Although this was a retrospective study of a small cohort of a mixture of patients, the findings emphasize that our experience with IVIg treatment for skin disease, particularly immunobullous disease, is less favorable than that reported previously. Further studies are needed to verify the efficacy of IVIg for skin disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)41-47
Number of pages7
JournalMayo Clinic proceedings
Volume80
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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