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Failure of low-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy to suppress disease activity in patients with treatment-refractory rheumatoid arthritis.
- Source :
-
Arthritis and rheumatism [Arthritis Rheum] 1996 Jun; Vol. 39 (6), pp. 1027-9. - Publication Year :
- 1996
-
Abstract
- Objective: Treatment with high-dose (400 mg/kg/day) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) shows benefit in many autoimmune diseases but is very expensive. Low-dose IVIg has also been shown to be effective in inhibiting adjuvant arthritis in the rat. This pilot, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to assess the use of low-dose IVIg in patients with treatment-refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA).<br />Methods: Twenty patients with active RA were recruited. Ten patients received IVIg and 10 received albumin. Study subjects were given 6 courses of either IVIg (5 mg/kg) or albumin (5 mg/kg), once every 3 weeks. Baseline medications were continued and not changed throughout the study.<br />Results: There were no complications. Five patients dropped out before the 18-week followup visit. No significant differences between treatment groups were noted during the 18-week trial in terms of global activity indices (patient or physician assessment), joint swelling, joint pain or tenderness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, or rheumatoid factor. The protocol was terminated prematurely because of reported contamination of IVIg by hepatitis C virus. None of the patients showed evidence of hepatitis C infection by serologic analysis or by polymerase chain reaction.<br />Conclusion: Low-dose IVIg, as administered in this trial, does not show a therapeutic effect in patients with refractory RA.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0004-3591
- Volume :
- 39
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Arthritis and rheumatism
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 8651966
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/art.1780390621