IVIG News for Alzheimer's

[melanie]

Drug for Immune Disorders Helps Alzheimer's

Study Shows Gammagard May Treat Alzheimer's Patients

By Charlene Laino

WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Laura J. Martin, MDApril 14, 2010 (Toronto) -- A decades-old drug made from human plasma appears to slow the decline of mental skills in people with Alzheimer's disease, suggest results from a small preliminary study.

 

The drug is called Gammagard. It's a form of intravenous immunoglobulin, or IVIG, drugs that are usually used to treat immune system disorders.

 

Researchers believe the drug can replenish a depleted pool of natural antibodies against beta-amyloid protein, which forms the sticky plaques that riddle Alzheimer's patients' brains.

 

In the new study of 24 patients, scores on a standard test measuring the disturbances of memory, language, attention, and other cognitive skills that are hallmark symptoms of Alzheimer's disease dropped an average of slightly more than five points in those treated with IVIG.

 

That compares with a 15-point decline in patients who initially received placebo and switched to IVIG, says Norman Relkin, MD, of Cornell Weill College of Medicine in New York City.

 

The IVIG treatment also appeared to slow the rate of brain shrinkage by about 45%, he tells WebMD.

 

The findings were presented at the American Academy of Neurology meeting.

 

Slideshow: When a Loved One Has Alzheimer's

 

Benefits of Gammagard Benefits

Relkin says Gammagard produced "benefits like I've never seen before."

 

He says he had one patient, a former piano player, who played the same four compositions over and over. "Four to six months into the study, he sight-read a new piece for the first time in years. Over the next few months, the patient continued to improve his repertoire," Relkin says.

 

Since IVIG has been around for years, its side effects in the general population are well known: headaches, rashes, and blood pressure elevation.

 

"By and by, it's well tolerated," Relkin says. "But we don't yet know the side effect profile in an elderly, Alzheimer's disease population."

 

One thing that is known: The treatment is expensive -- about $2,000 to $3,000 per treatment. And patients in the study received infusions up to twice a month, depending on the dose, for 18 months.

 

In the study, eight patients received a placebo and 16 got one of four doses of Gammagard every two to four weeks. After 12 weeks, patients in the placebo group switched over to Gammagard at the same range of doses.

 

Patients were evaluated every three months using standardized Alzheimer's tests and MRI scans.

 

Second Opinion

The results are "very encouraging," says Stephen Salloway, MD, a professor of neurology at Brown University who was not involved with the research.

 

"To see any signal [that the drug is working] in a study this small is unexpected," he tells WebMD. "This is the type of response we are hoping for."

 

But another researcher urged caution.

 

"This is a very small phase II study whose purpose is really just to establish the correct dose," Ron Peterson, MD, director of the Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in Rochester, Minn., tells WebMD. "In the past few years alone, several Alzheimer's drugs that made it to this stage failed to pan out in further testing."

 

A larger phase III trial of 360 patients pitting the drug against placebo is under way, according to Relkin.

 

The study was funded by Baxter, which makes Gammagard.

[trggirl]

Wow, that is fascinating!!

[thereishope]

Alzheimer's and PANDAS have more in common. The NSAID Ibuprofen, can slow down the onset of Alzheimer's. However, the NSAID naproxen sodium does not. With PANDAS, Ibuprofen eases symptoms in some kids. However, the NSAID naproxen sodium does not.

Edited April 15, 2010 by Vickie

[melanie]

Alzheimer's and PANDAS have more in common. The NSAID Ibuprofen, can slow down the onset of Alzheimer's. However, the NSAID naproxen sodium does not. With PANDAS, Ibuprofen eases symptoms in some kids. However, the NSAID naproxen sodium does not.

 

 

Why? Why does one work and not the other?How about asprin?

[forjpj]

This is all extremely interesting! My dad is end-stage Alz., and from my perspective...daughter of Alz., mother of PANDAS, there are a lot of correlations. Maybe not so much when you get down to the medical science of it...I don't know about all that, but it makes me wonder. Especially, when I am starting to put together the genetic aspect. My mom and I have recently put our memories together, and we both have vague recollections of me having what was probably a PANDAS episode. And one of my Dad's sisters made us wonder about him. And as far as my Dad's health as an adult, he is the patient who did everything right and still got Alzheimers. Now knowing that a PANDAS treatment is being used for Alzheimer's patients, makes me wonder if there is a predisposition to both. Who knows? I'm probably way off!

[thereishope]

I read it awhile ago so I don't fully remember. I just remember being very surprised. I want to say that Ibuprofen passed the BBB better? Don't quote me on that.

 

 

Alzheimer's and PANDAS have more in common. The NSAID Ibuprofen, can slow down the onset of Alzheimer's. However, the NSAID naproxen sodium does not. With PANDAS, Ibuprofen eases symptoms in some kids. However, the NSAID naproxen sodium does not.

 

 

Why? Why does one work and not the other?How about asprin?

[dut]

Hi - My father had alzheimer's and reading recently that alzheimer's is, in part, a disease of weakened BBB integrity, feels as though it fits with having a PANDAS child. I wonder if Ibuprofen is better at closing the BBB. Our dd had CaMK of 165% high mid PANDAS range when totally symptom free. It feels as though for us BBB integrity is really important and that despite a high camk score she was symptom free 'cos her BBB was good at the time???

 

http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/index.cfm?id=313

 

interesting write up of BBB and alzheimer's, also this

 

http://www.ahaf.org/alzheimers/protein-associated-with.html

Protein Associated With Alzheimer’s Disease May Help To Defend Against Infection

 

and this study that found faster Alzheimer's disease with infections

 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/...80522155752.htm

 

interesting stuff....