title: Treatment of infantile spasms with intravenous gamma-globulins.
abstract: In a prospective study, 23 children with infantile spasms received intravenous gammaglobulins in high doses. 19 patients present a West syndrome. 4 older patients were included in the study because infantile spasms had preceded their Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. None of the patients had recently undergone corticosteroid therapy. No effect was observed in 15 patients, while transitory clinical and/or electroencephalographic improvement was noted in 3. Complete normalization was obtained in the remaining 5 patients, of whom 4 had severe brain lesions. No correlation existed between the therapeutic results and immunological abnormalities, a deficiency in IgG subclasses in particular. On the whole, the therapeutic results were disappointing. But the existence of some cases in which spectacular electroencephalographic and/or clinical improvement was obtained leads us to suggest that IV gamma-globulins be used as auxiliary treatment in infantile spasms.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Neuropédiatrie, Centre Gui de Chauliac, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Echenne
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dulac
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Parayre-Chanez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chiron
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Taillebois
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cognot
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andary
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clot
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baldy-Moulinier
mesh_terms: D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000009:adverse effects; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G