A. Achiron et al., INTRAVENOUS GAMMA-GLOBULIN TREATMENT IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS AND EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS - DELINEATION OF USAGE AND MODE OFACTION, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 57, 1994, pp. 57-61
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system demyelinating dise
ase of implicated autoimmune aetiology. The effect was evaluated of in
travenous gammaglobulin (IVIg), a successful therapy in various autoim
mune diseases, in relapsing-remitting MS patients treated for three ye
ars. IVIg treatment significantly reduced the number and severity of a
cute exacerbations and resulted in a lesser neurological disability. T
here were no significant short or long-term adverse effects to IVIg tr
eatment. To clarify the putative therapeutic effects of IVIg, this tre
atment was examined in the animal model of experimental autoimmune enc
ephalomyelitis (EAE) in the rat. IVIg suppressed active EAE in relatio
n to disease severity and duration, despite the presence of T-cell rea
ctivity to specific antigens, while the treatment had no effect on pas
sive EAE induced by adoptive transfer of myelin basic protein specific
CD4 + T-cells. It is concluded that IVIg treatment may be a promising
treatment in relapsing-remitting MS as it can alter the natural cours
e of the disease.