Objective: Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) are an established treatment in several immune-mediated diseases such as dermatomyositis or Kawasaki disease and they have been used in distinct clinical scenarios in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, in this latter disease no clear evidence besides hematological or renal involvement supports its use. The aim of the present study is to establish evidence for the treatment of non-renal non-hematological lupus with IVIG.
Methods: We have carried out a systematic literature review following PRYSMA principles on the use of this treatment in SLE patients with no renal no hematologic manifestations.
Results: We found 35 articles which were split into two subtypes, those with individualized data (29) and those with grouped data. Overall, 198 lupus patients treated with IVIGs [178 (90%) women and 20 (10%) men] were included. In 167 (84.3%) a clinical response was obtained [62 (31.3%) complete and 105 (53%) a partial one]. Adverse events were reported in 40 patients (20.2%), most of them mild with only 2 (1%) severe. According to individualized data, all cases with respiratory problems (5), 82.4% of those with cardiac involvement (18) and 53.8% of those with neuropsychiatric manifestations (18) achieved a complete response as more outstanding results.
Conclusions: After reviewing the experience of the use of IVIGs in extra-renal and extra-hematologic SLE patients, this treatment is demonstrated to be useful in refractory cases, especially in pulmonary, cardiac or neuropsychiatric complications with a good safety profile.
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