Fibrosis regression induced by intravenous gammaglobulin treatment

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ls of the Rheumatic Diseases 2003;62:175-177

© 2003 by BMJ Publishing Group & European League Against Rheumatism

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CONCISE REPORT

Fibrosis regression induced by intravenous gammaglobulin treatment

H Amital1, E Rewald2, Y Levy1, Y Bar-Dayan1, R Manthorpe3, P Engervall4,

Y Sherer1, P Langevitz5 and Y Shoenfeld1

1 Research Unit of Autoimmune Diseases and Department of Medicine " B " ,

Sheba Medical Centre, Tel-Hashomer, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of

Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

2 Fundacion Hematologica, Mar del Plata, Argentina

3 Sjögren's Syndrome Research Centre, Department of Rheumatology, Malmo

University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden

4 Department of Medicine, Division of Haematology, Karolinska Hospital,

Stockholm, Sweden

5 Unit of Rheumatology and the Department of Medicine " F " , Sheba Medical

Centre, Tel-Hashomer, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine,

Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

Correspondence to:

Professor Y Shoenfeld, Head, Department of Medicine " B " , Sheba Medical

Centre, Tel-Hashomer, 52621, Israel;

shoenfel@...

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To review case histories of patients in whom fibrosis played

a significant role in the pathogenesis of their disease, and to

determine whether intravenous gammaglobulin (IVIg) contributed to the

regression of their fibrotic condition.

Methods: Eight patients with excess fibrotic reaction in the course of

diverse diseases were analysed; a tendency that reverted with different

IVIg treatment options. Myelofibrosis was predominant in three patients

(a patient with a myeloproliferative syndrome, one with systemic lupus

erythematosus, and one with Sjögren's syndrome). Three patients had

scleroderma as their main feature, one patient had hepatitis C

cirrhosis, and one had idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Results: Fibrotic excess was reduced in all the patients by IVIg

treatment. In five patients the disease as a whole benefited from the

infusion of immunoglobulins.

Conclusion: IVIg may enhance resorption of fibrosis and promote healing

in patients with fibrotic associated disorders.

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