[Intravenously-administered immunoglobulins as first-choice agent in juvenile dermatomyositis]. / Intraveneus toegediend immunoglobuline als middel van eerste keuze bij juveniele dermatomyositis.

Dermatomyositis is an acquired disease characterised by symmetric predominantly proximal muscle weakness of the arms and legs, and misery. It may be associated with myalgia and there is often a characteristic rash. The mainstay of therapy is corticosteroids. Recently efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in chronic refractory dermatomyositis was reported. Because corticosteroids can cause serious side effects, we treated a seven-year-old girl suffering from dermatomyositis with IVIg as initial therapy. After two courses of IVIg infusions at a dose of 0.4 g/kg/day for five consecutive days, the patient made a rapid and complete recovery. This case shows that IVIg may be effective as initial therapy in patients with dermatomyositis. Whether IVIg is really a better treatment than corticosteroids should be investigated in a randomised study.