[Akatinol memantin in Alzheimer's disease: clinico-immunological correlates]

16 patients with Alzheimer's disease were treated with akatinol memantine. The levels of production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in lymphocyte culture were evaluated both before and after the treatment that lasted for 2-4.5 months. Before the therapy a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the production of IL-1 was observed in patients with mild and moderate dementia, with early onset of the disease and with the duration of the disease up to 9 years as compared with a control group (24 healthy individuals). After the treatment the production of IL-1 was decreased in patients with moderate dementia, with early onset, and with hereditary form of the disease. Decrease of the level of IL-1 production after the treatment corresponded to improvement of the cognitive functions of the patient. In cases of unsatisfactory treatment (without any improvement of a clinical state) IL-1 production was at higher levels (p < 0.05) as compared with the control values. It is suggested that initial high level of IL-1 production could serve as a predictor of efficiency of therapy with akatinol memantine in patients with early onset of Alzheimer's disease.