[Intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of malignant epilepsy in children]

15 children with malignant epilepsy showing no response to conventional antiepileptic drugs or hormone therapy were administered intravenous immunoglobulin (Endobulin, Immuno) at a dosage of 400 mg/kg per day on the 1st and 15th day and subsequently every three weeks for 6 months. 7 of these 15 patients showed IgG2 subclass deficiency. A significant reduction in attacks, or even absence of attacks was observed in 10 out of 15 children after six months of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. Apart from one patient with ringchromosomopathy, all the children with IgG2 subclass deficiency responded to this therapy. The reduction of attacks after i.v. immunoglobulin therapy correlates with the improvement or normalization of the EEG findings. At present, the authors consider the number of patients still too small to make a final assessment, but they believe that intravenous immunoglobulin holds an important position in the treatment of malignant epilepsy in childhood.