Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 18: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was associated with favorable treatment outcomes and was generally well tolerated among patients with severe dermatologic diseases, according to a 20-year real-world cohort study.

The study included 285 patients who received IVIG at a tertiary dermatology centre between January 2001 and November 2021. Researchers evaluated patient demographics, diagnoses, comorbidities, treatment responses and both immediate and delayed adverse events.

Autoimmune bullous diseases accounted for 61 per cent of the conditions treated, making them the largest diagnostic group. Favorable clinical outcomes were reported across the different disease categories, with particularly positive results among patients with autoimmune bullous diseases and those with Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.

The findings provide long-term clinical insights into the use of IVIG for severe, immune-mediated and treatment-resistant dermatologic conditions and support its continued use in dermatology practice when treatment is tailored to individual patient needs.

Adverse events were reported in 44 patients, accounting for 15.4 per cent of the cohort. Both immediate and delayed reactions were documented during the study period.

Hypertension and flu-like symptoms were among the most common immediate reactions, while renal impairment and thromboembolic events were the most significant delayed complications.

The researchers found that adverse events were not associated with the underlying dermatologic diagnosis. However, complications were significantly more common among patients with existing comorbidities.

The findings highlight the importance of assessing patients’ coexisting health conditions before initiating IVIG treatment. Individualised infusion strategies and closer monitoring may help reduce treatment-related risks while allowing patients with severe dermatologic diseases to receive the therapy when clinically appropriate.