Abstract
Many trials have been done on steroid-resistant atopic dermatitis. Recently,
intravenous immune globulin (i.v.IG) was reported to be effective in the
treatment of steroid-dependent atopic dermatitis. The aim of this study was to
clarify whether i.v.IG therapy is effective in steroid-resistant atopic
dermatitis. Forty-one steroid-resistant atopic dermatitis patients were tested
in this study. Patients who weighed less than 30 kg were administered 500 mg/kg
of i.v.IG. Patients who weighed 30 kg or more were administered 15 g of i.v.IG.
Patient evaluations and laboratory tests with peripheral bloods such as
eosinophil percentages and serum IgE levels were performed at days 0, 1, 7, and
21. In the present study, patients who responded to i.v.IG therapy were
classified as Group A. Twelve patients who showed transient effects with lower
clinical significance were classified as Group B (29.3%). Remaining 12 patients
(29.3%) in Group C showed no improvement at all. Serum IgE levels and blo
eosinophil percentages were markedly decreased in Group A. I.v.IG therapy may be
recommended in the treatment of atopic dermatitis with extremely high serum IgE
levels.