[Intravenous immunoglobulin in postpolio syndrome].
BACKGROUND
Postpolio syndrome is characterised by new muscular weakness, pain, and fatigue several decades after the acute polio, and affects approximately 1/4 of patients with previous paralytic polio.


METHODS
A 47-year-old woman with a previous history of acute poliomyelitis developed progressive muscular weakness in her left arm and right leg with muscular pain and fatigue. Clinical examination, MRI, and electromyography gave no other explanation to her progressive muscular weakness and fatigue than postpolio syndrome. She was treated with 400 mg/kg immunoglobulin intravenously for five consecutive days.


RESULTS
At follow-up two and three months later, she had a considerable increase in isokinetic muscle strength in knee extension and flexion on the right side, and experienced less fatigue.


CONCLUSIONS
This case suggests that stabilisation of an autoimmune dysfunction may be a therapeutic option in postpolio syndrome.
Nevrologisk avdeling, Haukeland Universitetssykehus 5021 Bergen. elisabeth.farbu@helse-bergen.no
Elisabeth
E
Farbu
Tiina
T
Rekand
Nils Erik
NE
Gilhus
Vegard
V
Strøm
Arve
A
Opheim
Johan Kvalvik
JK
Stanghelle
Johan A
JA
Aarli
D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D016262:Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous