Dermatology and Immunoglobulin Therapy: Who to Treat and How to Administer Immunoglobulins

Use of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in the Treatment of Pemphigoid Gestationis: A Case Report

Gestational pemphigoid is a rare autoimmune skin condition specific to pregnancy and the postpartum period, with a variable course. There are currently no standardized guidelines referring to evidence-based therapeutic strategies. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has recently emerged as a safe and effective steroid-sparing option as a second-line treatment for cases refractory to conventional steroid therapy and for managing relapses. We present the case of a 36-year-old primigravida patient diagnosed with gestational pemphigoid who initially had a difficult clinical course despite treatment with high-dose oral steroids. A first cycle of IVIG combined with steroids (with a gradual dose tapering regimen) was administered, showing initial clinical improvement. However, the patient experienced a relapse that required a new increase in steroid dose and interruption of pregnancy due to fetal growth restriction. Given persistent disease activity at the first outpatient follow-up, a combination of oral steroids with a gradual dose tapering regimen, along with a new cycle of IV immunoglobulin and azathioprine, was initiated, leading to complete resolution by the 19th week of outpatient follow-up. No adverse effects associated with IVIG were reported during the course of follow-up.

How to Recognize and Manage Challenging DRESS Cases: Two Case Reports and A Review of the Literature

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is an uncommon systemic adverse drug reaction. Furthermore, it is a unique syndrome encompassing various manifestations of fever, facial edema, eosinophilia, atypical lymphocytosis, and organ dysfunction. Since there are no large prospective studies concerning DRESS syndrome, current treatment modalities for DRESS have been mainly determined based on various case reports and expert opinions. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of therapy after the cessation of the culprit drug. Although most cases recover within a couple of months, some may persist and even progress despite 1 mg/kg/day of prednisolone or its equivalent. We herein present two cases of severe DRESS syndrome. Both cases presented with organ dysfunction and remained unresponsive to initial treatment with 1 mg/kg/day of intravenous methylprednisolone. Therefore, plasmapheresis or pulse steroid therapy (250 mg/day methylprednisolone for three days) was used. In the follow-up period, patients' clinical conditions improved dramatically without recurrence. We aimed to share our experience in recognizing and managing severe DRESS cases in this manuscript. Furthermore, we reviewed the literature in comparison with the present cases. In conclusion, plasmapheresis or pulse steroid therapy (250 mg/day of methylprednisolone for three days) can be used to treat difficult DRESS cases where organ failure is about to happen.

Immunosuppressive and immunomodulator therapy for rare or uncommon skin disorders in pandemic days

Immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies are important in dermatology, but indications are influenced by SARS-CoV-2. We will focus on skin disorders such as autoimmune connective tissue disorders, neutrophilic dermatoses, and vasculitis. Immunomodulators such as colchicine and antimalarials can easily be preferred taking their beneficial effects on COVID-19 into consideration and also given their wide spectrum of action. Among the conventional therapies, methotrexate, azathioprine, and mycophenolate mofetil increase the risk of infection, and thus their use is recommended only when necessary and at low doses. On the other hand, use of cyclosporine is also not recommended as it increases the risk of hypertension, which is susceptible to COVID-19. Anti-TNF agents from among the biological therapies appear to be slightly risky in terms of susceptibility to infection. However, there are ongoing studies which suggest that some biological treatments may reduce cytokine storm impeding the COVID-19 progression as a result, in spite of their susceptibilities to COVID-19. Patients, who will be started on immunosuppressive therapy, should be tested for COVID-19 prior to the therapy, and in the event that COVID-19 is suspected, the therapy should be discontinued.

Blood, blood components, plasma, and plasma products

This review of 2018 publications identifies side effects of blood, blood components, and plasma products. In addition, albumin, blood transfusion (erythrocytes, granulocytes, and platelets), blood substitutes (hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers), plasma products (alpha1-antitrypsin, C1 esterase inhibitor concentrate, cryoprecipitate, and fresh frozen plasma), plasma substitutes (etherified starches, and gelatin), globulins (intravenous immunoglobulin, subcutaneous immunoglobulin, and anti-D immunoglobulin), coagulation proteins (factor I, factor II, factor VIIa, factor VIII, factor IX, prothrombin complex concentrate, antithrombin III, and von Willebrand factor/factor VIII concentrates), erythropoietin and derivatives, thrombopoietin and receptor agonists, transmission of infectious agents through blood donation, and stem cells are reviewed. This chapter informs the reader about newly recognized and published data in the blood product domain.