Efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulins in livedoid vasculopathy: Long-term follow-up of 11 patients - 17/09/14
Abstract |
Background |
Evidence for the efficacy of various therapies of livedoid vasculopathy (LV) is limited.
Objective |
We sought to determine efficacy and tolerability of 2 g/kg of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) every 4 weeks in patients with LV.
Methods |
This was a long-term follow-up study of 11 patients with LV treated with 2 g/kg of IVIG assessing the clinical characteristics, disease course, and quality of life.
Results |
The treatment regimen led to complete remission of ulcerations and pain in 17 of 29 disease episodes (59%) after 3 cycles and in 25 of 29 episodes (86%) after 6 cycles. Two disease episodes showed remission after 7 and 8 cycles, resulting in a total number of remissions of 27 (93%). Subscore analysis showed resolution of pain in 80% after 2 IVIG cycles. Disease severity and quality of life were significantly improved after 6 cycles. Median duration of remissions was 26.7 months after initial and 7.5 months after subsequent disease episodes.
Limitations |
This was a retrospective study that did not include the comparison of IVIG efficacy and its impact on quality of life with treatment options.
Conclusions |
In our patients with LV, high-dose IVIG led to fast and complete resolution of pain and ulcerations and to substantial improvement in quality of life.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : atrophie blanche, Dermatology Life Quality Index, intravenous immunoglobulins, livedo reticularis, livedoid vasculitis, livedoid vasculopathy, quality of life, thrombotic vasculopathy
Abbreviations used : DLQI, IVIG, LV, LVAS
Plan
Funding sources: None. |
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Conflicts of interest: None declared. |
Vol 71 - N° 4
P. 738-744 - octobre 2014 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
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