[High-dose immunoglobulins in children with Guillain-Barré syndrome].

High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin was effective in 3 children with severe Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). They presented with mild to moderate, flaccid weakness which progressively deteriorated to severe tetraparesis and weakness of ocular, facial and bulbar muscles. 1 of them was treated with steroids with no response. Serum immune globulins were infused (1g/kg/day) for 2 consecutive days. There was marked clinical improvement in all 3 after the second day of infusion, and there were no adverse affects. All became ambulatory and were able to walk within the first week. Ocular, facial and bulbar impairment gradually subsided and disappeared, as did hypertension in 1. A 6-year-old boy completely recovered after 3 weeks while the 2 girls, both aged 9 years, still have mild weakness which is gradually improving. High-dose immunoglobulin therapy may be effective in children with severe GBS, with no significant adverse effects. It presumably provides idiotypic antibodies that block the autoimmune process responsible for demyelination.