Briefly Noted

IVIG for patients with myositis and refractory esophageal disease; antimalarials to prevent cardiac symptoms of neonatal lupus and thrombovascular events in adult systemic lupus; and a sunscreen to prevent cutaneous lupus

IVIG for Esophageal Disease Associated with Inflammatory Myopathy

In 1993, researchers reported benefits to both muscle and skin disease from high-dose intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy in patients with dermatomyositis and polymyositis (DM/PM). Marie and colleagues1 retrospectively analyzed 73 patients with DM/PM whose steroid-refractory esophageal disease was treated with 2 gm/kg monthly IVIG. Esophageal involvement was frequently accompanied by pulmonary disease, including interstitial pneumonitis and aspiration pneumonia. Ten patients with refractory disease had a malignancy. Sixty patients (82%) had clearance of esophageal disease after the second or third monthly infusion. Oral steroid dosages were able to be reduced in 65 pati…

Author

Jeffrey P. Callen, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board XOMA; Eli Lilly; Celgene

Equity Various trust accounts

Editorial boards JAMA Dermatology; UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societies Association of Professors of Dermatology (President-Elect)