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Immunomodulation in Adult Epilepsy: The Role of IVIG

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Madeleine Sharp  and
Manouchehr Javidan
Madeleine Sharp*
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Manouchehr Javidan
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
*
Room 8219, 8th Floor, Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1M9, Canada. Email: madeleinesharp@gmail.com
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Abstract

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Much of the research for intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) use in epilepsy has focused on childhood epilepsies and the results have been inconclusive. As evidence for inflammation in epilepsy and epileptogenesis is accumulating, IVIG might have a role to play in adult epilepsy. Our literature review focuses on the purported mechanisms of IVIG, the link between inflammation and the various causes of adult epilepsy and the different steps of epileptogenesis at which inflammation might play a role. We also review the current clinical evidence supporting IVIG as a treatment for epilepsy in the adult population. Though there is interesting theoretical potential for treatment of refractory epilepsy in adults with IVIG, insufficient evidence exists to support its standard use. The question remains if IVIG should still be considered as an end-of-the-line option for patients with epilepsy poorly responsive to all other treatments.

Type
Review Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 39 , Issue 5 , September 2012 , pp. 584 - 591
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2012

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