Intravenous immunoglobulins containing antibodies against β-amyloid for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

• Published in: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry neurosurgery and psychiatry, 2004-10, Vol.75 (10), p.1472-1474
• Main Authors: Dodel, R C, Du, Y, Depboylu, C, Hampel, H, Frölich, L, Haag, A, Hemmeter, U, Paulsen, S, Teipel, S J, Brettschneider, S, Spottke, A, Nölker, C, Möller, H J, Wei, X, Farlow, M, Sommer, N, Oertel, W H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alzheimer; Alzheimer Disease - immunology; Alzheimer Disease - therapy; Alzheimer’s disease; Amyloid beta-Peptides - immunology; Amyloid beta-Peptides - pharmacology; Antibody Formation; beta amyloid; cerebrospinal fluid; Cognition Disorders - etiology; Cognition Disorders - therapy; CSF; Female; human immunoglobulin preparations; Humans; immunisation; immunoglobulin; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous - immunology; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous - therapeutic use; IVlgG; Male; Mental Status Schedule; Middle Aged; Mini-Mental State Examination; MMSE; Treatment Outcome; β-amyloid
• ISSN: 0022-3050; 1468-330X
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2003.033399

Objective: Active or passive immunisation can mitigate plaque pathology in murine models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently, it has been shown that antibodies against β-amyloid (Aβ) are present in human immunoglobulin preparations (IVIgG), which specifically recognise and inhibit the neurotoxic effects of Aβ. This study reports the results from a pilot study using IVIgG in patients with AD. Methods: Five patients with AD were enrolled and received monthly IVIgG over a 6 month period. Efficacy assessment included total Aβ/Aβ1–42 measured in the CSF/serum as well as effects on cognition (ADAS-cog; CERAD) at baseline and at 6 months following IVIgG. Results: Following IVIgG, total Aβ levels in the CSF decreased by 30.1% (17.3–43.5%) compared to baseline (p