Relapse in Guillain-Barré syndrome after treatment with human immune globulin.
Seven adult patients received human immune globulin intravenously as initial therapy for Guillain-Barré syndrome. Although all patients initially stabilized or improved, five patients deteriorated 1 to 16 days after completion of treatment. In all five patients, clinical worsening included loss of at least one functional grade together with a decreased forced vital capacity. We subsequently treated each patient with a course of plasma exchange, which led to varying degrees of clinical improvement in four. In contrast to previously reported relapse rates for Guillain-Barré syndrome, our experience suggests that clinically significant relapses may occur in patients more often following human immune globulin therapy than after either plasma exchange or no therapy.
Irani
D N
DN
Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Cornblath
D R
DR
Chaudhry
V
V
Borel
C
C
Hanley
D F
DF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007136:Immunoglobulins