High dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in therapy-restistent ANCA-negative necrotizing vasculitis

7 patients (5 female, 2 male;age: 22-81 years;average age=58,1 J) with recu rrent necrotizing ANCA-negative, non leucocytoclastic vasculitis, were enro lled into this study. Disease was resistant to prior conservative therapy, and therefore patients received high dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) - (dose:1,0 g/kg body weight daily dose 0,25 g/kg body weight over 4 conse cutive days). All patients responded rapidly to this therapeutic regimen. S pecifically immediate pain relief was striking. Complete clearance of disea se was observed in 5 out of 7 patients within 6 months while receiving IVIG (0,5 g/kg body weight) every 4 weeks for one year. in 2 out of 5 patients ulceration and vasculitis healed completly and therapy could be stopped aft er 6 months. In one patient treatment had to be discontinued due to decreas ing kidney function. The data presented demonstrate that IVIG is an effecti ve and valuable therapeutic modality in treatment of severe vasculitis resi stant to conventional therapy. However consideration of costs, effectivenes s and possible side effects is needed for this therapeutic regime.