Dermatológia pre prax 4/2015

Intravenous immunoglobulin in therapy of pemphigus vulgaris

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is of biological origin and cannot be synthetically prepared. Its purified form is used to treat primary and secondary immunodeficiency. Until 90. years, it is used to treat autoimmune diseases including bullous diseases, especially pemphigus vulgaris. European guidelines of pemphigus vulgaris considered IVIG to be the second line treatment. It is used in refractory cases when conventional immunosuppressive therapy proved ineffective or evoked undesirable effect. Numerous publications observed corticos teroid sparing effect and new articles also recorded longtime immunomodulation. IVIG possesses good safety profile. Side effects and undesirable effects are mild and transient.

Keywords: pemphigus vulgaris, autoimmune bullous diseases, IVIG, immunomodulation therapy.