Intravenous immunoglobulin does not increase FcgammaRIIB expression on monocytes/macrophages during acute Kawasaki disease

OBJECTIVES: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy has been reported to be effective for reducing the incidence of coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease (KD), an acute febrile vasculitis of unknown aetiology. Regarding the mechanism of IVIG in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), it has been reported that IVIG increases the expression of the inhibitory Fc receptor, FcgammaRIIB (CD32B), on splenic macrophages in a murine ITP model. Regarding the mechanism of IVIG during acute KD, we investigated whether or not IVIG increases the expression of FcgammaRIIB in peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes/macrophages. METHODS: The expression of FcgammaRIIB in peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes/macrophages was determined before and after IVIG therapy in 13 patients with acute KD by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The percentage of CD14+ CD32B+ monocytes/macrophages among peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the absolute number of CD14+ CD32B+ monocytes/macrophages and the percentage of CD14+ CD32B+ monocytes/macrophages among CD14+ monocytes/macrophages in patients with acute KD before IVIG therapy were significantly increased compared with those after IVIG therapy and in controls. CD14+ CD32B+ monocytes/macrophages decreased to within the normal range soon after IVIG therapy. CONCLUSIONS: IVIG therapy in patients with KD did not increase the expression of FcgammaRIIB in peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes/macrophages during the acute stage.     

Fulminant myocarditis successfully treated with high-dose immunoglobulin

Fulminant myocarditis is characterized by the rapid development of life-threatening congestive heart failure. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), by modulating the immune response, may be used for the treatment of acute myocarditis. We report two children with fulminant myocarditis successfully treated with a 10-h infusion of high-dose IVIG. In those cases, a dramatic clinical improvement was achieved, with both cardiac enzymes and myocardial function normalized within 1-2 weeks after treatment.     

Plasma concentrations of cytokines and neurohumoral factors in a case of fulminant myocarditis successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support.

A 53-year-old Japanese man with fulminant myocarditis was referred. Percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) was introduced immediately and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy followed for 2 days. Cardiac function showed signs of recovery on the 4th hospital day and the patient was weaned from PCPS on the 7th hospital day. Creatine kinase-MB peaked at 12 h after admission and was 176 ng/ml. Endomyocardial biopsy showed active myocarditis. A marked increase of the neutralizing antibody titer suggested coxsackievirus B3 infection. Plasma concentrations of cytokines and neurohumoral factors were analyzed. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), and anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1 receptor antagonist, soluble TNF receptor-1 and IL-10, were elevated on admission and all had decreased on the 7th hospital day. Brain natriuretic peptide and noradrenaline were already elevated upon admission (1,940 pg/ml and 4.6 ng/ml, respectively) and decreased thereafter. Although IVIG therapy under PCPS is a common treatment for fulminant myocarditis, the immunological response in vivo remains unclear. This case demonstrated suppression of serum cytokines after IVIG and PCPS treatment. Immunological parameters in those who have been treated with IVIG and PCPS and survived without complications are of great value for evaluation of the therapy. Further analysis with more cases in a multicenter study is necessary.     

Four cases of Kawasaki syndrome complicated with myocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Myocarditis frequently occurs in the acute phase of Kawasaki syndrome (KS), and a few severe cases have been reported. Four cases of myocarditis in KS required additional catecholamine treatment because of severe left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). CASE REPORTS: Three cases were relatively older children and 2 cases were complicated with encephalopathy. All 4 developed coronary artery abnormalities during convalescence. There was 1 case of LVD because of prolonged severe inflammation prior to administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). The remaining 3 patients had normal values for ejection fraction before the administration of IVIG but decreased values (42-51%) and increased C-reactive protein levels after IVIG administration. These cases demonstrate an association between myocarditis in KS and severe or worsened inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Even with prior normal echocardiography, careful observation of cardiac function may be necessary for patients with KS, especially older children, when inflammation deteriorates after administration of IVIG.     

Immunomodulating therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin in patients with chronic heart failure

BACKGROUND: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is characterized by enhanced immune activation, and immune-mediated mechanisms may play a pathogenic role in this disorder. Based on the immunomodulatory effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), we hypothesized that IVIG could downregulate inflammatory responses in CHF patients and have potential beneficial effects on the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty patients with chronic symptomatic CHF and LVEF of <40%, stratified according to cause (ie, ischemic and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy), were randomized in a double-blind fashion to receive therapy with IVIG or placebo for a total period of 26 weeks. Our main findings were that (1) IVIG, but not placebo, induced a marked rise in plasma levels of the anti-inflammatory mediators interleukin (IL)-10, IL-1 receptor antagonist, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors; (2) significantly correlated with these anti-inflammatory effects, IVIG, but not placebo, induced a significant increase in LVEF from 26+/-2% to 31+/-3% (P:<0.01), and this was found independent of the cause of heart failure; and (3) N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide decreased significantly after induction therapy and continued to decrease toward the end of study during IVIG therapy (P:<0.001) but remained unchanged during placebo. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated an IVIG-induced change in the balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines that favored an anti-inflammatory net effect in CHF. This effect was significantly correlated with an improvement in LVEF, suggesting a potential for immunomodulating therapy in addition to optimal conventional cardiovascular treatment regimens in CHF patients.     

Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment for acute fulminant inflammatory cardiomyopathy: series of six patients and review of literature

BACKGROUND:

Although an autoimmune mechanism has been postulated for myocarditis and acute-onset inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), immunomodulatory treatment strategies are still under investigation.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

The clinical data of six patients with acute inflammatory DCM referred for evaluation for possible heart transplantation were reviewed. All patients were admitted with acute congestive heart failure and severely impaired left ventricular (LV) function and were treated with high-dose (2 g/kg) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). The diagnosis of acute inflammatory DCM was based on recent onset of congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association functional class III or IV) with severely depressed LV ejection fraction ([LVEF] 30% or lower) occurring shortly after viral-like illness. All patients had inflammation on endomyocardial biopsy or elevated cardiac enzymes, as well as a normal coronary angiogram. All patients were in New York Heart Association class I or II at the time of hospital discharge. The mean LVEF improved from 21.7±7.5% at baseline to 50.3±8.6% at discharge (P=0.005). Four patients had complete recovery (LVEF 50% or higher) and two patients had partial LV recovery. Patients were followed for a median 13.2 months (range two to 24 months) and had a mean LVEF of 53±6% (P not significant versus LVEF at discharge).

CONCLUSIONS:

Therapy with intravenous high-dose IVIG may be a potentially useful treatment in selected patients if given early in the course of acute fulminant inflammatory DCM. A randomized, prospective trial is warranted to prove the real benefit of IVIG in this patient population.     

Limited effects of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment on molecular expression in muscle tissue of patients with inflammatory myopathies

OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted with the aim of achieving an improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in inflammatory myopathies by investigating the effects on muscle function and immunological molecules in skeletal muscle of polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM) and inclusion body myositis (IBM) patients. METHODS: Thirteen treatment-resistant patients, 6 PM, 4 DM, 2 IBM and 1 juvenile DM, were treated with 2 g/kg of IVIG, three times at monthly intervals. Functional Index in Myositis and serum creatinine kinase (CK) levels were determined, and muscle biopsies were performed before treatment and after the third IVIG infusion. Immunological molecules were also studied in biopsies taken 24-48 h after the first infusion. RESULTS: Improved muscle function was observed in three patients (1 PM, 1 DM and 1 IBM) and CK levels decreased in five. T cells, macrophages, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen on muscle fibres, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression and membranolytic attack complex (MAC) deposits on capillaries were present to an equal degree in biopsies before and after IVIG treatment. No correlation between the clinical response and molecular changes was found. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical effects of high-dose IVIG on muscle function in patients with refractory inflammatory active myositis did not correspond to effects on any of the investigated molecules in our study. T cells, macrophages, phenotypical changes in muscle fibres and endothelial cell activation were still present after treatment. These observations question a role for IVIG as an immune-modulating therapy in patients with inflammatory myopathies.     

Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy for Refractory Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Polymyositis/Dermatomyositis

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (ILD-PM/DM), including amyopathic dermatomyositis (ADM), is recognized as an important condition because it frequently causes death, despite intensive therapy with high-dose corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents, such as cyclosporine A and cyclophosphamide. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG) has shown efficacy for myopathy associated with PM/DM, but its usefulness for ILD-PM/DM is unclear. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of IVIG for refractory ILD-PM/DM. A review was made of medical charts of five patients (2 men and 3 women) who were treated with IVIG for refractory ILD-PM/DM resistant to high-dose corticosteroid and cyclosporine A and/or cyclophosphamide. One patient had acute ILD-PM and four patients had acute ILD-ADM. Of the five patients, one patient with ILD-PM and one patient with ILD-ADM survived. No adverse reactions were seen due to IVIG treatment. There were no critical differences in the clinical parameters and clinical courses between survivors and nonsurvivors. IVIG treatment is safe and could be an effective salvage therapy for refractory ILD-PM/DM in certain cases, suggesting that further controlled trials are worthwhile.     

静脉注射免疫球蛋白在暴发性心肌炎中的应用价值

摘要 静脉注射免疫球蛋白(IVIG)是临床上推荐治疗暴发性心肌炎（FM）的一种药物治疗方案，其可通过抗病毒、抗炎、免疫调节等相关机制减少心肌细胞损伤，可能改善左室功能、降低恶性心律失常发生率，降低FM患者死亡率，在FM的治疗中具有一定的应用价值。但IVIG治疗FM的最佳时机、剂量和用法，以及对FM患者预后的影响仍有待进一步开展更多的前瞻性临床研究来明确。     

Kawasaki disease: Medical therapies

Medical therapies in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) are administered to reduce the prevalence of coronary aneurysms, reduce systemic inflammation, and prevent coronary thrombosis. All patients with acute KD should be treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) 2 g/kg, generally administered over 10–12 hours. Aspirin has never been shown to prevent aneurysms, but is given for its anti‐inflammatory and antipyretic effects until the patient has been afebrile for ～2 days, then lowered to an antiplatelet dose. Adjunctive therapy with a longer course of corticosteroids, together with IVIG and aspirin, may be considered for primary treatment in patients at high risk for development of aneurysms. For patients who have persistent or recrudescent fever after IVIG treatment without other explanation, adjunctive therapies include retreatment with IVIG, a tapering course of corticosteroids, infliximab, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide, and other immunomodulatory therapies. Antithrombotic therapies are tailored to the risk of thrombosis, and range from aspirin alone for 4–6 weeks in children without aneurysms to a combination of anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy for those with giant aneurysms.     

静脉注射丙种球蛋白无反应型川崎病Th17细胞的变化及意义

目的 探讨Th17细胞在静脉注射丙种球蛋白(IVIG)无反应型川崎病(KD)免疫发病机制中的作用.方法 选取KD患儿45例,其中IVIG敏感型KD 35例,IVIG无反应型KD 10例,同年龄健康对照组30名.KD患儿分别于IVIG治疗前后直接取血备检,IVIG无反应型KD分别在病程第8、9、11天取血备检.采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应(PCR)检测CD4~+T细胞白细胞介素(IL)-17A/F、转录因子ROR-γt mRNA表达;采用流式细胞术检测外周血Th17细胞占CD4~+T细胞比例.应用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测Th17细胞相关的细胞因子IL-17A和IL-6的表达.结果 ①急性期KD患儿CD4~+T细胞IL-17A/F表达明显高于对照组(P<0.01);②急性期IVIG无反应型KD患儿CD4~+T细胞内IL-17蛋白、IL-17A/F mRNA、Th17细胞转录因子ROR-γt的基因表达明显高于IVIG敏感型KD,经IVIG治疗后敏感型KDTh17细胞相关因子表达明显降低(P<0.01),无反应型KD Th17细胞相关因子仍持续高表达(P>0.05);③急性期KD患儿治疗前IL-17A和IL-6血浓度明显高于对照组(P<0.01),其中IVIG无反应型KD活化细胞因子水平明显高于1VIG敏感型KD组(P<0.01).经治疗后均有下降趋势,但IVIG无反应型KD仍高于敏感型KD(P<0.01);④甲泼尼龙冲击治疗IVIG无反应型KD当天退热.血浆IL-6,IL-17A较前明显降低,C反应蛋白(CRP)恢复快,能够迅速控制血管炎性反应.结论 Th17细胞过度活化可能是导致IVIG无反应型KD的原因之一.     

Cellular Immunologic Parameters in HIV-Positive Patients with AIDS-Related Complex and Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy1

Abstract. In a randomized double-blind longitudinal study with 30 HIV-1-positive patients with AIDS-related complex or stage Walter-Reed 5 disease, the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was tested for correcting eventual immune dysregulation. Although the IVIG-treated patients showed an improvement of their clinical score, no significant changes were observed in lymphocyte phenotypes, activation markers, immunoglobulins and subclasses, lymphocyte turnover or in indicators of acute inflammation. Since severe bacterial infections or autoimmune processes usually leading to IVIG therapy were not prevalent in the patients of the study, such therapy should probably be reserved for later stages of the disease. HIV-1 antigen expression in blood lymphocytes remained uninfluenced by IVIG treatment.     

Cellular immune deficiency in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis

In our previous work we found quantitative changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations (decrease in total T lymphocytes, increase in T suppressor cells and monocytes) in patients with idiopathic chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). The aim of this study was the functional state of the immune response (lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine secretion in vitro) in order to characterize the cellular immune defects and their changes under immunomodulatory therapy. We studied 34 patients with active CGN, divided in groups treated by IVIG or combined corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy. We found decreased proliferative ability of PBMNC to mitogen as well as to antigen. There were increased basal production of TNF and sIL-2R and lack of increase of LPS-induced IL-1 in vitro. These deviations suggest a deficiency in cellular immune response in patients with chronic GN which was influenced by immunomodulatory therapy alongside with beneficial clinical effect.     

Effects of immunoglobulin on murine myocarditis caused by influenza A virus: experimental study

OBJECTIVES: Influenza A viruses play the largest role in the worldwide epidemiology of infectious diseases. We examined the effects of intact type and F(ab')2 type of immunoglobulin preparations on murine influenza A virus myocarditis in mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: In vitro study showed that intact type and F(ab')2 type of immunoglobulin preparations had antiviral activities against many substrains of influenza A virus and other cardiotropic viruses, and that dose-dependent suppression of an influenza A virus (NWS type) was demonstrated by the treatment of both intact immunoglobulin and F(ab')2 fragments of immunoglobulin. The dose inhibiting 50% of plaques was same between intact type and F(ab')2 type (both 0.0002 mg/dl). Intact immunoglobulin, but not F(ab')2 fragments of immunoglobulin, suppressed serum macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) production in influenza A virus infected macrophages in vitro, which is a murine counterpart of interleukin-8. This suppression of MIP-2 production by intact immunoglobulin treatment was blocked by a specific Fc receptor (Fc gamma III/II receptor) antibody pretreatment. Intact immunoglobulin (1 g/kg/day) or F(ab')2 fragments of immunoglobulin (1 g/kg/day) were administered to the virus-inoculated A/J mice intraperitoneally daily, starting simultaneously with virus inoculation (Experiment I ) and 2 days after the virus inoculation (Experiment II ), until 10th days after virus inoculation. In Experiment I, survival was higher in treated [intact (100%, 20/20), and F(ab')2 (100%, 20/20)] than in control (25%, 5/20) mice; intact type and F(ab')2 type immunoglobulin administration completely suppressed the development of myocarditis. In Experiment II, survival rate was significantly higher (75%, 15/20) and myocarditis was less severe in intact immunoglobulin treated mice, but not in F(ab')2 fragment treated mice (60%, 12/20), than in untreated mice (35%, 7/20). Serum neutralizing antibody titers in treated mice were significantly higher compared with untreated mice in Experiments I and II. In addition, serum MIP-2 concentrations in intact immunoglobulin treated mice, but not in F(ab')2 fragments treated mice, were lower compared with untreated mice in Experiment II. Immunoglobulin therapy suppresses influenza A virus myocarditis by increasing neutralizing antibody titers and the suppression of myocardial virus activities. From the stand-point of suppression of MIP-2 concentrations, intact type is superior to F(ab')2 type. CONCLUSIONS: Immunoglobulin treatment may be promising for the prevention of influenza A virus myocarditis.     

Efficacy of intravenous gammaglobulin therapy in chronic refractory polymyositis and dermatomyositis: an open study with 20 adult patients.

PURPOSE: Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are inflammatory muscular diseases of unknown cause. Many interventions are available to treat patients with these conditions including corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, plasmapheresis, and total body irradiation. However, these therapies are not always effective, and they may be associated with certain serious side effects. An attempt was made to evaluate the efficacy of polyvalent intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis refractory to traditional treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients (16 women and 4 men; mean age 43 [16 SD] years), 14 with chronic refractory polymyositis and six with dermatomyositis, received high doses of IVIG because of the failure of traditional treatments (prednisone [19], methotrexate [10], azathioprine [6], cyclophosphamide [3], cyclosporine [3], chlorambucil [1], plasmapheresis [8], lymphopheresis [1], and total body irradiation [1]). In one patient with positive results on picornavirus serologic testing, IVIG was the first treatment choice. IVIG therapy was given with prednisone in 15 patients, with methotrexate in six patients, and with plasmapheresis in one patient. There were no changes in treatment in the 2 months before the introduction of IVIG therapy and no increases in dose during this treatment. Preparations of polyvalent human intravenous gammaglobulins with increased intact immunoglobulin G were used. Thirteen patients received 1 g/kg daily for 2 days each month, and seven patients received 0.4 g/kg daily for 5 days each month. The mean duration of treatment was 4 months. RESULTS: Clinical assessment, which consisted of the measurement of proximal muscle power, and biochemical studies were carried out before each treatment period. Significant clinical improvement was noted in 15 of the 20 patients. Mean muscle power estimated for the 20 patients before and after IVIG therapy was statistically significantly reduced (p less than 0.01). Eighteen patients showed biochemical improvement, and two patients with normal initial serum creatine kinase levels showed clinical improvement. Mean creatine kinase levels for the 20 patients during IVIG therapy showed a statistically significant decrease from the first IVIG perfusions (p less than 0.01). Side effects of IVIG therapy were noted in four patients; however, these effects were mild. During IVIG therapy, steroid doses were significantly reduced from the second or the third IVIG infusion (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: IVIG is an efficacious new therapy for polymyositis and dermatomyositis and should play a role in the treatment of these diseases, replacing or reducing steroid and immunosuppressive medications.     

Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy associated with pegylated interferon α 2a therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection

The combination of pegylated interferon （Peg-IFN） and ribavirin is the standard of care for chronic hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection treatment. In general, common side effects related to this combination therapy are mild and are very well tolerated. However, peripheral neuropathy including demyelinating polyneuropathy related to Peg- IFN is extremely rare. We present the first case of an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy （AIDP） associated with Peg-IFN-α 2a （Pegasys） after 16 wk of a combination therapy with Pegasys and ribavirin in a 65-year-old woman with chronic HCV infection. She developed tingling, numbness, and weakness of her upper and lower extremities and was hospitalized for acute neurological deficits. Her clinical course, neurological findings, an electromyogram （EMG）, nerve conductions studies （NCS）, muscle biopsy, and a sural nerve biopsy were all consistent with AIDP likely related to Pegasys use. The patient recovered completely with the use of intravenous immunoglobulin （IVIG） including physical therapy and neurological rehabilitation. It is very important that gastroenterologists and/or hepatologists recognize this rare neurological complication related to Peg-IFN treatment very early, since it requires a prompt discontinuation of therapy including an immediate referral to a neurologist for the confirmation of diagnosis, management, and the prevention of long-term neurological deficits.     

High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of acute myocarditis. A case report and review of the literature

A few reports have suggested the beneficial effect of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in the treatment of acute myocarditis and cardiomyopathy. We describe a 49-year-old woman in which acute myocarditis was diagnosed on the basis of clinical and echocardiographic findings. Conventional treatment with captopril and frusemide was administered: intravenous heparin and, subsequently, oral anticoagulants were added because of the appearance of an apical thrombus. On the fifth day of hospitalization, treatment with high-dose (400 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) IVIG was started and prosecuted for 5 days. A dramatic improvement of clinical conditions was observed, with increase of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from 30% to 75% within 1 week. One year after the diagnosis the patient is in good health, with steady normal LVEF. The rapid recovery, which was immediately subsequent to the administration of high-dose IVIG, suggests that this kind of treatment has been effective in our patient with acute myocarditis.     

Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for juvenile dermatomyositis: efficacy and safety

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for the treatment of juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) in patients who were unresponsive to corticosteroids (steroid resistant or steroid dependent) or showed unacceptable toxicity. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of the course of all patients with JDM treated with IVIG who attended the Dermatomyositis Clinic at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada, from August 1986 to December 1996. RESULTS: Eighteen patients with JDM were treated with IVIG. Ten patients were taking additional 2nd line treatments, methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclosporine, and cyclophosphamide. The main indication for starting IVIG was the failure of steroid therapy to induce remission of JDM. Twelve patients showed clinical improvement with IVIG. In these patients, the corticosteroid dose was reduced by > 50% for > 3 months without clinical or biochemical flare. Nine of these 12 patients had IVIG alone as a 2nd line agent, whereas 3 patients were treated with additional agents. Six patients remained steroid dependent; they subsequently required multiple agents to induce remission of JDM. CONCLUSION: Most steroid dependent or steroid resistant patients in our clinic were able to markedly reduce their dose of corticosteroid with the addition of IVIG. Given the retrospective nature of our data and the fact that multiple agents were sometimes used together, it will be important to confirm these findings in a controlled trial.     

Treatment of AB Deficiencies

Abstract. The objective of this study was to compare serum immunoglobulin levels and the clinical status of patients with primary immune deficiency who received an intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) (pH 4.0) preparation for 1 year with results previously obtained when the same patients received intramuscular immunoglobulin (IMIG). During the IVIG treatment year, increased serum immunoglobulin levels, shorter duration of certain infectious disorders, reduced antibiotic use, ans improved rheumatoid symptoms were observed. The actual benefit of IVIG therapy could not be established until after the sixth months, since illness was even further reduced during the second 6 months of treatment. Other clinical observations are evaluated in the 2 groups.     

Beneficial effects of low-dose benidipine in acute autoimmune myocarditis: suppressive effects on inflammatory cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthase.

Excessive production of nitric oxide (NO) by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) contributes to the progression of myocardial damage in myocarditis. Some dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers reportedly inhibit NO production and proinflammatory cytokines and the present study sought to clarify if a low dose of benidipine, a novel dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, would ameliorate experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). Rats with or without myocarditis were administered oral benidipine at a dose of 3 mg. kg(-1). day(-1) for 3 weeks. Low-dose benidipine did not decrease blood pressure significantly compared with the untreated group, but markedly reduced the severity of myocarditis. Myocardial interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) expression and IL-1beta-positive cells were significantly less in rats with EAM that were treated with low-dose benidipine compared with untreated rats. Also, myocardial iNOS expression and iNOS-positive cells were markedly reduced in in the treated rats compared with the untreated group. Furthermore, myocardial NO production and nitrotyrosine expression were suppressed by the treatment in rats with EAM. The cardioprotection of low-dose benidipine may be caused by suppression of inflammatory cytokines and inhibition of NO production.