Abstract
Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) are the mainstay of treatment in children with Kawasaki syndrome, primary immunodeficiency syndromes and idiopathic (immune-mediated) thrombocytopenic purpura. Where the US FDA has approved the use of IVIGs for the above indications, the last 10 years have seen a boom in off-label use of IVIGs in a number of autoimmune and cell-mediated diseases in dermatology. The high cost of IVIGs is often considered to be a disadvantage that restricts their use and is often debated. We feel that taking into account the high safety profile with low incidence of side effects related to the use of IVIGs, the benefits achieved in the diseases they are often used to treat, prevention and/or a decrease in the side effects related to chronic use of systemic steroids and other immunosuppressants in most of these disorders and, above all, the improvement in quality of life through functional improvement, their use surpasses the cost issue and is justified. After a brief review of the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, doses and side effects of IVIGs, we will focus mainly on the indications of IVIGs in pediatric dermatology and address whether their use is justified for these indications.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.