The therapeutic effect of intravenous immunoglobulins and vitamin C on the progression of experimental autoimmune myocarditis in the mouse.

BACKGROUND

The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous-immunoglobulin (IVIG) and vitamin C (VC) on the progression of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM).

MATERIAL/METHODS: Fifty-two Balb/c mice were randomized into six groups: blank, small-dosage VC, large-dosage VC, IVIG, IVIG+VC, and a control group. All mice were sacrificed 21 days later. The level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), the ratios of the heart, spleen, and kidney to body weight (C/W, S/W, K/W), and pathological changes in the hearts and spleens were evaluated.

RESULTS

VC could extenuate inflammatory cell infiltration in the myocardium and calcification in the pericardium. IVIG or IVIG+VC could extenuate the pathological change more effectively. The C/W of each therapy group decreased significantly compared with that of control group. The TNF-alpha levels in the small- and large-dosage VC groups were a little lower than in the control group; the levels in the IVIG and IVIG+VC groups were significantly lower than in controls. Electron microscopic observation of the myocardium showed that VC could extenuate the damage to the myocardium. The myocardium in IVIG and IVIG+VC groups were almost normal.

CONCLUSIONS

IVIG and vitamin C have some protective and therapeutic effect on the progression of EAM by decreasing pathological damage to the myocardium and depressing TNF-alpha production. Especially IVIG combined with vitamin C are more effective as they can stimulate the immune reaction and increase IgG deposition in the myocardium.