18-Month study of intravenous immunoglobulin for treatment of mild Alzheimer disease

Norman R. Relkin, Paul Szabo, Basia Adamiak, Tuna Burgut, Carmen Monthe, Richard W. Lent, Steven Younkin, Linda Younkin, Richard Schiff, Marc E. Weksler

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259 Scopus citations

Abstract

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) has been proposed as a potential agent for Alzheimer's disease (AD) immunotherapy because it contains antibodies against beta-amyloid (Aβ). We carried out an open label dose-ranging study in 8 mild AD patients in which IVIg was added to approved AD therapies for 6 months, discontinued, and then resumed for another 9 months. Infusions were generally well-tolerated. Anti-Aβ antibodies in the serum from AD patients increased in proportion to IVIg dose and had a shorter half-life than anti-hepatitis antibodies and total IgG. Plasma Aβ levels increased transiently after each infusion. Cerebrospinal fluid Aβ decreased significantly at 6 months, returned to baseline after washout and decreased again after IVIg was re-administered for an additional 9 months. Mini-mental state scores increased an average of 2.5 points after 6 months, returned to baseline during washout and remained stable during subsequent IVIg treatment. Our findings confirm and extend those obtained by Dodel et al. [Dodel, R.C., Du, Y., Depboylu, C., Hampel, H., Frolich, L., Haag, A., Hemmeter, U., Paulsen, S., Teipel, S.J., Brettschneider, S., Spottke, A., Nolker, C., Moller, H.J., Wei, X., Farlow, M., Sommer, N., Oertel, W.H., 2004. Intravenous immunoglobulins containing antibodies against beta-amyloid for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 75, 1472-1474] from a 6-month trial of IVIg in 5 AD patients and justify further studies of IVIg for treatment of AD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1728-1736
Number of pages9
JournalNeurobiology of aging
Volume30
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2009

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Amyloid beta peptides
  • Immunotherapy
  • Intravenous immunoglobulin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Aging
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

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