title: Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in patients with motor neuron syndromes associated with anti-GM1 antibodies: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: We studied the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in 12 patients with motor neuron syndromes associated with high titers of anti-GM1 antibodies. Five of the patients had conduction blocks. The study design was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial with IVIg (0.4 g/kg body weight per day injected for 5 consecutive days). We evaluated the patients before and 5, 28, and 56 days after drug administration using a computerized analyzer for muscle strength, the Norris scale for disability, motor nerve conduction velocities for patients with conduction blocks, and measurements of immunologic markers. Compared with placebo, IVIg induced a significant increase in muscle strength only in the patients with conduction blocks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Timone, Marseilles, France.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Azulay
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Blin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pouget
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boucraut
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Billé-Turc
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carles
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serratrice
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside