Effect of treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin on quality of life in patients with stiff-person syndrome.
The therapeutic effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) on the stiff-person syndrome (SPS) have been described exclusively in case reports or open-label studies in terms of clinical outcomes. We investigate whether IVIG improves quality of life (QoL) in the SPS. Six patients with the classic form of SPS completed a generic QoL instrument, the SF-36, and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before treatment as well as 2 weeks after completion of a course of IVIG. There was significant improvement in the SF-36 subscores for pain, social functioning, general mental health, and energy-vitality with treatment. The VAS also improved significantly. We conclude that treatment with IVIG improves QoL in the SPS.
Institute of Neurology, Sobell Department of Neurophysiology, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom.
Willibald
W
Gerschlager
Peter
P
Brown
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D016750:Stiff-Person Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous