FAILURE OF HIGH-DOSE INTRAVENOUS IMMUNOGL OBULINS IN SOME SYSTEMIC-DISEASES - 5 CASES

Human polyvalent immunoglobulins administered intravenously have shown to be effective in some immune diseases. We administered high dose-IV Ig (2g/kg/session) in five patients with severe chronic systemic dise ases. Their condition did not improve, except in one case where a tran sient response was noticed. Considering the inconsistent results and h igh cost of IV Ig, double blind studies are required to determine the conditions in which high dose IV Ig may be more effective than convent ional treatments.