[Experimental treatment with high-dose gamma globulins in autoimmune diseases]

High-dose intravenous gammaglobulin has been successfully used in several autoimmune diseases such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, autoimmune neutropenia; more recently this treatment has been experimented in other autoimmune conditions with conflicting results. After a review of recent literature, the article considers results obtained by high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin therapy in some conditions such as connective tissue diseases and vasculitis. A review of different mechanisms of action hypothesized in the different disorders is reported. In fact, it is quite clear today that this treatment has not only clinical effects but achieves also measurable immunological and biological results so that we can consider high-dose gammaglobulin as a immunomodulating treatment.