IVIG for Myasthenia Gravis – pro
Most treatments for Myasthenia Gravis invlove immunosupression and can take several weeks to begin to be effective.A lthough clear efficacy demonstrated by a placebo-controlled trial is lacking, there is experimental and anecdotal evidence for benefit of IVIg in MG. The response rate is ~60 to 70%, and improvement occurs within days to weeks. In cisis situations, palsmapheresis works faster. A randomized study comparing IVIg to plasmapheresis in 87 MG patients with exacerbations found the two therapies to be equally effective; IVIg had fewer side effects. However, a retrospective series found plasmapheresis to be superior to IVIg in patients in myasthenic crisis. Nevertheless, IVIg does get rapid responses and is easler and less logisticlaly complicated than plasmapheresis. It is recommended by guidelines. 1 2 3
1.Feasby Inc. Medical Technology Directory. Intravenous Immunoglobulin for MyastheniaGravis. Lansdale, PA: Hayes, Inc.; October 5, 2012
2.Benatar M, Kaminski H. Medical and surgical treatment for ocular myasthenia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD005081.
3.Benatar M, Kaminski H. Evidence report: The medical treatment of ocular myasthenia(an evidence-based review): Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology 2007;68:21442149.