[High-dose immunoglobulin treatment of epilepsy in children].
High-dose, intravenously administered immunoglobulins have been successfully applied to a few cases of childhood epilepsy and led to a reduction of the seizure frequency in a number of studies. In the present study 4 patients with myoclonic-astatic petit mal or myoclonic absence were treated with intravenously administered immunoglobulins (400 mg/kg for 5 days). Deterioration occurred in 1 patient, 1 patient showed no effect, and 2 patients showed a partial and transient response. Theoretically, the rationale for immunoglobulin therapy in epilepsy is based on the assumption of autoimmune mechanisms as being the underlying pathogenesis. However, a review of the literature showed that the few studies available differ in the forms of epilepsy treated and the effects obtained. No study correlated the effects of immunoglobulin administration with a presumptive autoimmune disorder. As a result, high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin treatment of childhood epilepsy remains empirical and the group of patients who might benefit from such a treatment continues to be poorly defined.
Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Düsseldorf, (BRD).
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D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
Hochdosierte Immunglobulinbehandlung der Epilepsie bei Kindern.