Abstract
We treated 37 patients affected by autoimmune generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) with high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin (HDIVIg), 400 mg/kg per day on 5 consecutive days. A one-degree improvement of Oosterhuis global clinical classification of myasthenic severity (OGCCMS), the disappearance of bulbar involvement or both were recorded 12 days after the beginning of the treatment in 70.3% of the patients and persisted up to 60 days in 58.7%. A two-degree improvement of OGCCMS was recorded in 54.1% of the patients and it was maintained up to 60 days in 37.8%. The percentage of improvement did not significantly differ between patients entering the treatment in a long-standing, drug-refractory stationary phase of the illness (n = 26) and patients who received HDIVIg in an acute phase of MG (n = 11). None of the patients experienced side effects. Our data indicates that HDIVIg is an interesting, virtually riskless therapeutic choice for MG patients, and allows the planning of a controlled trial versus plasma-exchange.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 81-84 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Acta Neurologica Scandinavica |
Volume | 84 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - 1991 |
Keywords
- high-dose
- immunoglobulin
- intravenous
- Myasthenia gravis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Neuroscience(all)