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Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) for dermatomyositis was effective in a pivotal phase III randomized trial, a researcher reported.
At week 16, 78.72% of patients receiving IVIG were considered responders versus 43.75% among those given placebo, which represented a difference of 34.97% (95% CI 16.70-53.24,
P=0.0008). This was a highly significant difference, said Rohit Aggarwal, MD, co-director of the Myositis Center at the University of Pittsburgh, during a plenary abstract session at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) virtual congress. Dermatomyositis is a rare, chronic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive proximal muscle weakness and a characteristic skin rash, he explained. Current therapeutic options include corticosteroids, other immunosuppressants, and IVIG. However, none of these therapies have been evaluated in phase III studies.
Juvenile inflammatory rheumatic disease associated with higher antibody responses to seasonal coronaviruses
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pathogen behind the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a coronavirus of the betacoronavirus family. However, there are other human seasonal coronaviruses that cause endemic human infection, with mild common cold symptoms. The spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 infection also ranges from mild symptoms like a runny nose, nasal congestion or mild fever, to severe gastrointestinal or respiratory disease, sometimes terminating in multi-organ failure.
SARS-CoV-2 vs HCoV-OC43 infection
The complications of COVID-19 are observed in less than a tenth of patients, with risk factors for these including male sex, advanced age, ethnic background, lack of healthcare access, and pre-existing conditions. The majority of infections are asymptomatic.
In autoimmune skin diseases, your body's immune system mistakenly attacks your own healthy cells. The overzealous immune response may show up as rashes, plaques, blisters, scaly patches or skin tightening.