[A case of Guillain-Barré syndrome treated with intravenous high doses of immunoglobulins]

Abstract

A case of severe Guillain-Barré syndrome unresponsive to plasma exchange was treated with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins. The same therapy has been already successfully used in cases of chronic polyneuropathy. Immunoglobulin administration was scheduled as follows: a pulse dose (400 mg/kg/day) for three consecutive days, followed by maintenance dose (400 mg/kg every 15 days) until achievement of sustained clinical improvement. We observed a time-related response between immunoglobulin administration and clinical improvement. To our knowledge this is the first case of Guillain-Barré syndrome treated with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins. Further studies are obviously necessary to confirm the effectiveness of this treatment in Guillain-Barré syndrome.