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Effects of Intravenous Immunoglobulin on Muscle Weakness & Calcium-Channel Autoantibodies in Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Synd Neurol 47:678-683, Bain,P.G.,et al, 1996 See this aricle in Pubmed Article Abstract Intravenous immunoglobulin improves many antibody-mediated autoimmune disorders but its mode of action is unknown.We investigated its effects on muscle strength and on the serum titer of the calcium-channel autoantibodies that are likely to be pathogenic in the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome(LEMS).In a randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled crossover trial,series indices of limb,respiratory and bulbar muscle strength and the serum titer of calcium-channel antibodies in nine patients were compared over an 8 week period,using the area-under-the- curve approach,following infusion on two consecutive days of immunoglobulin at 1 g/kg body weight/day(total dose 2.0 g/kg body weight) or placebo(equivalent volume of 0.3%albumin).We conclude that immunoglobulin causes a short term improvement in muscle strength in LEMS that probably results from the induced reduction in calcium-channel antibodies.The reduction is not due to a direct neutralizing action of the immunoglobulin,but a delayed anti-idiotypic action cannot be excluded. Improvement following intravenous immunoglobulin in other autoantibody- mediated disorders may similarly be associated with decline in levels of pathogenic autoantibodies.

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(click to filter results - removes previous filter) gammaglobulin therapy,intravenous myasthenic syndrome myasthenic syndrome,treatment of treatment of neurologic disorder

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