Guidelines on the use of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin in dermatology.

The treatment recommendations presented for the use of IVIg in dermatology highlight the high status of IVIg therapy in numerous defined dermatological autoimmune diseases and in toxic epidermal necrolysis. The high value of IVIg therapy in diseases which are otherwise refractory to treatment is undisputed. A clear case therefore exists for making a treatment recommendation such as described above for the conditions mentioned. Because the mechanism of action of IVIG in vivo is still unclear, however, further efforts should be made to reach standard therapies for the affected patient groups. This would enable even larger case series conducted by different therapists at different sites to be evaluated. Orientation towards the guideline recommendations laid down here should create a basis for this. The implementation of this EU guideline in general practice means that the use of IVIg in dermatology will be optimized throughout Europe.