[Immunoglobulin therapy of rheumatoid arthritis]

The authors studied the effect of the Soviet-made immunoglobulin drug intended for intramuscular administration on the clinico-immunological indices of 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The drug was administered in a dose of 1500-1800 mg for 7 days running of each month. The control group included 15 patients with RA who received the drug in extremely low doses in accordance with the same pattern. Significant positive changes in the majority of the clinico-laboratory indices were noted in the main group. Individual assessment of the drug efficacy allowed one to note improvement in 8 patients (out of 14) in one month, in 7 (out of 12) in 3 months, in 4 (out of 7) in 6 months. One patient exhibited considerable improvement of her state and one developed fever due to which the treatment was discontinued. The results of the therapy correlated with deexpression of Ia-antigens under the effect of the drug on the peripheral blood lymphocytes.