[Immunoglobulin therapy of neuromuscular diseases]

Abstract

High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is effective in myasthenia gravis (MG), Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy (CIDP). The effect is equivalent to plasmapheresis (PE), and in GBS perhaps superior. IVIG may be effective, even if PE or corticosteroids have been ineffective -- and vice versa. IVIG may well become the therapy of first choice in MG, GBS, and CIDP as it is easily administered, there are no serious side-effects and there exists no risk of virus transmission. Future studies will show if a combination of PE and IVIG is superior to either of the two treatment schedules alone.