PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - NAOMI TSURIKISAWA AU - HIROSHI SAITO AU - CHIYAKO OSHIKATA AU - TAKAHIRO TSUBURAI AU - KAZUO AKIYAMA TI - High-dose Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment Increases Regulatory T Cells in Patients with Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis AID - 10.3899/jrheum.110981 DP - 2012 May 01 TA - The Journal of Rheumatology PG - 1019--1025 VI - 39 IP - 5 4099 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/39/5/1019.short 4100 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/39/5/1019.full SO - J Rheumatol2012 May 01; 39 AB - Objective. We studied the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment on clinical symptoms and regulatory T (Treg) cell frequency in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Methods. Twenty-two EGPA patients with severe mononeuritis multiplex or cardiac dysfunction received IVIG therapy combined with conventional therapy (corticosteroid, immunosuppressants, or both). As a control, 24 EGPA patients without severe vasculitic symptoms were treated with conventional therapy. Before, during, and after treatment, we determined percentages of Treg cells and other relevant cells in patients’ peripheral blood. Results. The frequency of CD25+ among CD4+ T cells was lower at onset in the study group than in controls but increased significantly after IVIG treatment, relative to controls. The frequency of CD25+ among CD4+ T cells correlated with the frequency of FOXP3+ among CD4+ T cells and interleukin 10 produced by CD25+CD4+ T cells. Conclusion. The increase in Treg cells seen with the combination of IVIG and conventional therapy may promote remission in EGPA.