title: High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of Guillain-Barré syndrome: a preliminary open study.
abstract: We report the effects of intravenous gamma-globulin (IVGG) in severe Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in a small open study. Seven patients were given IVGG (0.4 g/kg/day) for 5 consecutive days. At the start of treatment all had progressing limb weakness and none could stand unaided. Within 24 h all but one patient started to improve, without the expected plateau phase, and progress was maintained with a mean time to independent walking of 14 days. One patient started treatment 9 h prior to ventilation for 15 days but was walking independently 31 days after admission. This study provides further evidence that IVGG is a promising therapeutic alternative to plasmapheresis in GBS. The rapidity of the response to IVGG raises the possibility that a single dose regimen might be equally or more effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Godwin-Austen
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Whiteley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D005719:gamma-Globulins