Premium
Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita: treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins
Author(s) -
Gourgiotou K,
Exadaktylou D,
Aroni K,
Rallis E,
Nicolaidou E,
Paraskevakou H,
Katsambas AD
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-3083.2002.00386.x
Subject(s) - epidermolysis bullosa acquisita , medicine , intravenous immunoglobulins , antibody , dermatology , intravenous immunoglobulin therapy , autoimmune disease , immunology , bullous pemphigoid
Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is a rare autoimmune bullous disorder that is often difficult to treat. Few cases have been reported and therapy consists mainly of combinations of systemic steroids, immunosuppressants and, recently, administration of intravenous human immunoglobulin (IVIg). We describe a case of EBA in which our therapeutic choices were limited due to the patient’s poor general condition, including extensive infection of the lesions and a history of pulmonary tuberculosis. The patient was treated with IVIg at a dose of 400 mg/kg per day for 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks. The treatment was well tolerated and the results were satisfactory. It seems that IVIg, due to its possible immunomodulatory mode of action, can be an efficacious therapeutic agent in this rare autoimmune disease.