This medical condition has either been superseded or has become inactive
| Specific Conditions |
|
| Indication for Ig Use |
|
| Level of Evidence | Evidence of probable benefit – more research needed (Category 2a) |
| Description and Diagnostic Criteria |
The inflammatory myopathies are a group of three discrete disorders of skeletal muscle: DM, PM and IBM. These disorders are acquired and have in common the occurrence of significant muscle weakness and the presence of an inflammatory response within the muscle. The diagnosis of DM, PM or IBM is usually made by neurologists or rheumatologists, and relies on the combination of careful clinical evaluation, an elevated creatine kinase level, electromyography and muscle biopsy. |
| Justification for Evidence Category |
PM: The Biotext (2004) review included one prospective case-series study of 35 adults with chronic refractory polymyositis. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) may be of benefit in these patients, improve mean muscle power and allow reduction in dose of corticosteroid. Further research is needed. DM: The Biotext (2004) review included one double-blind, placebo-controlled trial considered of low quality of 15 patients with biopsy-confirmed, treatment-resistant dermatomyositis. IVIg treatment combined with prednisone led to significant improvement in muscle strength and neuromuscular symptoms of patients in the intervention group (n = 8). IBM: The Biotext (2004) review included three small controlled studies, two of which had a crossover design. A total sample of 77 patients diagnosed with IBM was followed for between 4 and 12 months. The three studies showed possible slight benefit in reducing endomysial inflammation, disease progression and severity of IBM. Further research is needed. One submission reported the effectiveness of IVIg therapy for PM and DM as add-on therapy for patients who have not responded to steroids and immunosuppression (NSW IVIg User Group). A further submission confirms a role for IVIg as add-on maintenance therapy in some patients, resulting in an increased chance of complete remission and reduction in corticosteroid dose. A third submission suggests that IVIg can be tried as add-on treatment for patients with PM or DM who have not responded adequately to corticosteroids and second-line immunosuppressive agents (Asia–Pacific IVIg Advisory Board 2004). Weak evidence suggests that it may benefit patients with dysphagia associated with IBM (Asia–Pacific IVIg Advisory Board 2004). |
| Diagnosis Requirements |
A diagnosis must be made by an Immunologist, Neurologist or a Rheumatologist. |
| Qualifying Criteria for Ig Therapy |
Polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM) with significant muscle weakness unresponsive to corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents.
AND
AND
Inclusion body myositis (IBM) with dysphagia affecting function.
Rapidly progressive inclusion body myositis (IBM).
|
| Exclusion Criteria |
Expert consensus does not recommend IVIg to treat the limb weakness of IBM. |
| Review Criteria for Assessing the Effectiveness of Ig Use |
Polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM) with significant muscle weakness unresponsive to corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents.
IVIg should be used for three to six months (three to six courses) before determining whether the patient has responded. If there is no benefit after three to six courses, IVIg therapy should be abandoned.
Review by a Neurologist, Rheumatologist, or Clinical Immunologist is required within six months and annually thereafter, and a trial off period should be considered at each annual review. Documentation of clinical effectiveness is necessary for continuation of IVIg therapy. On review of the initial authorisation period Clinical effectiveness of Ig therapy may be demonstrated by:
On review of a continuing authorisation period Clinical effectiveness of Ig therapy may be demonstrated by:
Inclusion body myositis (IBM) with dysphagia affecting function.
IVIg should be used for three to six months (three to six courses) before determining whether the patient has responded. If there is no benefit after three to six courses, IVIg therapy should be abandoned.
Review by a Neurologist, Rheumatologist, or Clinical Immunologist is required within six months and annually thereafter, and a trial off period should be considered at each annual review. Documentation of clinical effectiveness is necessary for continuation of IVIg therapy. On review of the initial authorisation period Clinical effectiveness of Ig therapy may be demonstrated by:
On review of a continuing authorisation period Clinical effectiveness of Ig therapy may be demonstrated by:
Rapidly progressive inclusion body myositis (IBM).
IVIg should be used for three to six months (three to six courses) before determining whether the patient has responded. If there is no benefit after three to six courses, IVIg therapy should be abandoned.
Review by a Neurologist, Rheumatologist, or Clinical Immunologist is required within six months and annually thereafter, and a trial off period should be considered at each annual review.. Documentation of clinical effectiveness is necessary for continuation of IVIg therapy. On review of the initial authorisation period Clinical effectiveness of Ig therapy may be demonstrated by:
On review of a continuing authorisation period Clinical effectiveness of Ig therapy may be demonstrated by:
|
| Dose |
Polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM) with significant muscle weakness unresponsive to corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents.
The aim should be to use the lowest dose possible that achieves the appropriate clinical outcome for each patient. Dosing above 1 g/kg per day is contraindicated for some IVIg products. Refer to the current product information sheet for further information. Inclusion body myositis (IBM) with dysphagia affecting function.
The aim should be to use the lowest dose possible that achieves the appropriate clinical outcome for each patient. Dosing above 1 g/kg per day is contraindicated for some IVIg products. Refer to the current product information sheet for further information. Rapidly progressive inclusion body myositis (IBM).
The aim should be to use the lowest dose possible that achieves the appropriate clinical outcome for each patient. Dosing above 1 g/kg per day is contraindicated for some IVIg products. Refer to the current product information sheet for further information. |
|
|
|
| Bibliography |
|---|
| Association of British Neurologists 2005, Guidelines for the use of intravenous immunoglobulin in neurological diseases, The Association, London. Available from: http://www.theabn.org/media/docs/ABN%20publications/IVIg-guidelines-final-July05.pdf Biotext 2004, ‘Summary data on conditions and papers’, in A systematic literature review and report on the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy and its risks, commissioned by the National Blood Authority on behalf of all Australian Governments. Available from: http://www.nba.gov.au/pubs.htm Cherin, P, Pelletier, S, Teixeira, A, et al 2002, ‘Results and long-term follow up of intravenous immunoglobulin infusions in chronic, refractory polymyositis: an open study with thirty-five adult patients’, Arthritis & Rheumatism, vol. 46, no. 2, pp. 467–74. Choy, EHS, Hoogendijk, JE, Lecky, B, et al 2005, ‘Immunosuppressant and immunomodulatory treatment for dermatomyositis and polymyositis (Cochrane Review)’, in The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, United Kingdom. Dalakas, MC 2004, ‘The use of intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of autoimmune neuromuscular diseases: evidence-based indications and safety profile’, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, vol. 102, no. 3, pp. 177–93. Dalakas, MC 2005, ‘Polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and inclusion body myositis’, in DL Kasper, E Braunwald, AS Fauci, et al (eds), Harrison’s Textbook of Medicine, 16th edn, McGraw-Hill, New York, pp. 2540–45. Dalakas, MC, Illa, I, Dambrosia, JM, et al 1993, ‘A controlled trial of high-dose intravenous immune globulin infusions as treatment for dermatomyositis’, New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 329, no. 27, pp. 1993–2000. Dalakas, MC, Koffman, B, Fujii, M, et al 2001, ‘A controlled study of intravenous immunoglobulin combined with prednisone in the treatment of IBM’, Neurology, vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 323–7. Dalakas, MC, Sonies, B, Dambrosia, J, et al 1997, ‘Treatment of inclusion body myositis with IVIg: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study’, 7, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 712–6. Kornberg, AJ, for the Asia–Pacific IVIg Advisory Board 2004, Bringing consensus to the use of IVIg in neurology. Expert consensus statements on the use of IVIg in neurology, 1st edn, Asia–Pacific IVIg Advisory Board, Melbourne. Walter, MC, Lochmuller, H, Toepfer, M, et al 2000, ‘High-dose immunoglobulin therapy in sporadic inclusion body myositis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study’, Journal of Neurolology, vol. 247, no. 1, pp. 22–8. Wiles, CM, Brown, P, Chapel, H, et al 2002, ‘Intravenous immunoglobulin in neurological disease: a specialist review’, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 440–8. |