Immunoglobulins i.v.: a new approach to the treatment of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

We report the results obtained with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVGG) in 15 patients suffering from Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS) with substantial motor damage. All of them met the NINCDS criteria for a diagnosis of certain GBS and were graded using a specific scale on entry, after 2 weeks, one month, two months, six months and one year. The clinical data were correlated to neurophysiological results. The patients were treated within the seventh day of the disease with IVGG (0.4 g/kg/day) for 5 days. Complete recovery was obtained in all but 2 patients died. We measured the mean time taken to improve one grade of the evaluation scale and the mean time taken to achieve walking unassisted. We obtained 11 days and 14 days respectively, that is, times significantly shorter than those reported in studies employing plasma exchange. No adverse effect was found except in one case. No relapse was observed. Even the patients with more clinical and neurophysiological damage had a rapid recovery. We advocate IVGG therapy for GBS, as it is effective, safe and easy to use.