High-dose intravenous immune globulin in the management of severe Guillain-Barre syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin (IGIV) versus plasmapheresis in patients with severe Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and compare the costs of both treatments.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of all severely disabled GBS patients admitted between January 1 and December 31, 1990.

SETTING

Neurologic unit of a tertiary-care center.

PATIENTS

Six patients fulfilling the criteria for the diagnosis of GBS agreed upon by the ad hoc National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke committee.

INTERVENTION

Four patients treated with plasmapheresis underwent three to six sessions of plasma exchange. Two patients received IGIV 0.4 g/kg/d administered over a five-day period.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Recovery time, functional assessment (performed according to the grading scale used in the North American trial) at 30, 60, and 90 days after treatment. Cost of plasmapheresis, IGIV, and bed/day were compared.

RESULTS

Clinical recovery appeared to be faster and more complete in the IGIV group than in the plasmapheresis group. No adverse reactions related to IGIV treatment appeared. The total cost was greater in the plasmapheresis group.

CONCLUSIONS

These preliminary results suggest that IGIV may be more beneficial and less expensive than plasmapheresis in treatment of GBS. Definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy of IGIV in GBS will need to await the final analysis of the Ducht randomized multicenter trial comparing IGIV with plasmapheresis.