No persistent effect of intravenous immunoglobulins in patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy.

Abstract

We report on four patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy (NC), who were treated with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg). Although in some patients transient effects were seen of both objective (multiple sleep latency test and maintenance of wakefulness test) and subjective symptoms (Epworth Sleepiness Scale and frequency of cataplexy), these effects lasted at the most for a few weeks and did not persist. Our report challenges the recent observations of a favorable and persistent effect of IVIg in NC patients.

• Authors: Philipp O Valko, Ramin Khatami, Christian R Baumann, Claudio L Bassetti
• Journal: Journal of neurology (J Neurol) Vol. 255 Issue 12 Pg. 1900-3 (Dec 2008) ISSN: 1432-1459 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 18825431 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous

Topics

• Adult
• Cataplexy (complications, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Narcolepsy (complications, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Time Factors