INTRAVENOUS IMMUNOGLOBULIN TREATMENT IN CHILDREN WITH GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME

Guillain-Barre syndrome is an acquired demyelinating polyneuropathy th at is presumed to be immune-mediated. On the basis of this assumption, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been used in the treatment of G uillain-Barre syndrome in recent years and found to be effective. To t est this we performed a randomized study in patients with Guillain-Bar re syndrome by giving IVIG (1 g/kg body weight per day over 2 consecut ive days) in 9 children who were compared with 9 patients who were obs erved but not given specific therapy. We concluded that intravenous im munoglobulin is a safe and effective treatment for childhood Guillain- Barre syndrome which shortens the time to recovery.