Human immunoglobulin and the Guillain-Barre syndrome: new indication. An alternative to plasmapheresis.

(1) Human polyvalent immunoglobulin for intravenous administration has now been licensed in France for the treatment of adults with Guillain-Barre syndrome. (2) Its clinical assessment is mainly based on a comparative trial versus plasmapheresis, until now the reference treatment. (3) In this trial immunoglobulin was equivalent to plasmapheresis as regards the hastening of motor recovery and the prevention of complications. The combination of the two treatments was not superior to each treatment used alone. (4) The adverse effects of immunoglobulin are relatively infrequent and generally mild. (5) Immunoglobulin administration is simpler and safer than plasmapheresis.