title: Intravenous immunoglobulin may reduce relapse frequency in neuromyelitis optica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in preventing relapses in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and its spectrum disorders (NMOSDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Six NMO/NMOSD patients who were treated with IVIG induction dose followed by 2- to 3- monthly infusions were retrospectively identified. Annualized relapse rates (ARR) and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) pre- and post-IVIG were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median number of relapses and median ARR significantly reduced from 8.0 to 1.0 and 0.75 to 0.15 (p<0.05) respectively. Median EDSS of 6.5 remained the same. Median duration of treatment was 4.0 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IVIG may be used to reduce the relapse frequency in patients with NMO/NMOSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Malaysia. Electronic address: shivenda70@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shanthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viswanathan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: mdcwhyi@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Anna H Y
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: Amy_QUEK@nuhs.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Amy M L
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Quek
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: mdcyuki@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yuki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000276:immunology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C496030:AQP4 protein, human; D051401:Aquaporin 4; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors
keywords: Intravenous immunoglobulin; Neuromyelitis optica; Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder; Relapse rate