Positive response to immunomodulatory therapy in an adult patient with Rasmussen's encephalitis.
Rasmussen's encephalitis (RE) is a rare and progressive neurologic condition of uncertain etiology that typically has a childhood onset. The authors describe a 45-year-old woman with adult-onset progressive aphasia, right hemiparesis, severe drug refractory epilepsy, and left cerebral hemisphere atrophy. High-dose corticosteroids and plasmapheresis were not effective. She improved with high-dose therapy with human IV immunoglobulin.
Villani
F
F
Division of Clinical Neurophysiology and Epileptology, Istituto Nazionale Neurologico "C. Besta," Milan, Italy. neurofisiologia@istituto-besta.it
Spreafico
R
R
Farina
L
L
Giovagnoli
A R
AR
Bernasconi
P
P
Granata
T
T
Avanzini
G
G
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous