Successful treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins in a patient affected by dermatomyositis/systemic lupus erythematosus overlap syndrome and tuberculosis

Clin Immunol. 2007 Nov;125(2):127-30. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2007.07.009. Epub 2007 Aug 27.

Abstract

The case of a 56-year-old woman, with a previous history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), later diagnosed as also affected by active dermatomyositis (DM) associated with tuberculosis (TB) is reported. Since TB is a contra-indication to receive immunosuppressive therapy for DM/SLE, intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) with low-dose steroids and anti-TB therapy were administered with excellent clinical results. This report underlines the crucial role of IVIG in the treatment of critical patients suffering from connective tissue disorders associated with severe infections.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Dermatomyositis / complications
  • Dermatomyositis / microbiology
  • Dermatomyositis / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use*
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Isoniazid / therapeutic use
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / microbiology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pyrazinamide / therapeutic use
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use
  • Tuberculosis / complications
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis / therapy*

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Pyrazinamide
  • Isoniazid
  • Rifampin