title: [Long-term treatment with 7S immunoglobulins in myasthenia gravis. Preliminary clinical results].
abstract: After initial high-dose intravenous 7S immunoglobulin therapy, six patients with seropositive myasthenia gravis received intermittent low-dose 7S immunoglobulins for at least 4-12 months. This treatment was started in five cases following an acute exacerbation of myasthenic symptoms (Oosterhuis class 3-4) and in one case because of marked clinical fluctuations (Oosterhuis class 3). In five of the six patients, there was a clinical response to the immunoglobulin therapy within 2 weeks, followed by marked long-standing improvement and stability of the clinical outcome. In four cases a decrease in the titer of acetylcholine receptor antibodies was noted in parallel. Our observations suggest an additional positive therapeutic effect of long-term, low-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy following the acute management of myasthenic exacerbations.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt am Main.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bamberg
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Janzen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szabados
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; C021306:IgG, sulfonated; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic
vernacular_title: Zur Langzeitbehandlung mit 7S-Immunglobulinen bei Myasthenia gravis. Vorläufige klinische Ergebnisse.