Abstracts

Rationale: Despite widespread use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for the treatment of medically refractory epilepsy in centers throughout the world, there is a great paucity of clinical evidence for its efficacy and no randomized controlled trials investigating IVIG effects as monotherapy in epileptic patients (Cochrane Database Sys Rev 2011). In order to further highlight this need and generate interest in conducting future multi-center randomized trials, we summarize our experience with IVIG at a large tertiary referral center in Southern Alberta.Methods: A retrospective chart review within the Child Neurology Clinics at the Alberta Children s Hospital in Calgary included patients with epilepsy seen by a pediatric epileptologist from 2005-2011. Clinical responses reported by family were tabulated in 10 patients (ages 2.5 14.5 yrs, mean 7.9 yrs; M:F ratio 2:3) with the following diagnoses: infantile spasms (N=1), Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (N=2), Landau-Kleffner Syndrome (N=1), SPE 2 to viral encephalitis (N=2), SPE 2 to cortical malformation (N=2), Doose Syndrome (N=1), Dravet Syndrome (N=1). When available, information regarding tolerability and non-seizure-related outcomes were includedResults: See Table 1 for individual patient results. Three patients (1=IS and 2=LGS) with IVIG at 0.4 g/kg q3-4 wks over 5-52 months demonstrated mild-moderate (<50%) reduction in seizure frequency. Four patients (3 with symptomatic partial epilepsy [SPE], 1 with LKS) with IVIG at 0.4-1g/kg q 3-4 wks over a 10-64 months demonstrated a significant (>