Hyperimmune goat serum for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The authors report a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who showed a lessening of deterioration in respiratory muscle strength during treatment with hyperimmune goat serum (HGS) (Aimspro). Respiratory function tests (RFTs) were measured by established protocols, and all measurements were expressed as a percentage of normal predicted values. The rate of decline was calculated by linear regression analysis. Respiratory muscle strength decline was less during 13 months of treatment with HGS (mean 1.3% per month, range 0.8-1.7%) compared to the preceding 13 months (mean 2.3% per month, range 1.2-3.1%), while a greater decline would be expected with disease progression. Comparison with similarly affected patients in the literature suggest that a decline of 4-5% per month of predicted values may be expected during the treatment phase.
Mackenzie
R
R
Institute of Neurological Sciences, Prince of Wales Hospital, High St, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia. macra@optushome.com.au
Kiernan
M
M
McKenzie
D
D
Youl
B D
BD
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006041:Goats / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019782:Riluzole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044967:Serum / Q000276:immunology*; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000906:Antibodies; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D019782:Riluzole