What is the role for intravenous immunoglobulin in treating vasculitis?

Intravenous immunologlobulin (IVIG) is not often used to treat vasculitis. IVIG is the purified antibody-containing part of the blood proteins obtained from blood donations. IVIG is most often used in treating vasculitis when a patient with active vasculitis also has an infection. Unlike most other treatments used in treating vasculitis, IVIG does not suppress the immune system, and hence does not make it more difficult to get over infections. IVIG may also be used when other standard treatments for vasculitis have failed or have not been tolerated well. IVIG is usually given in monthly courses for 3-6 months; treating physicians usually decide on a case-by-case basis how many days of IVIG to give.

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