Alzheimer's Disease Short Course Treatment

  This is a follow-up to a previous blog entry related to IVIG treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester,MN.
 Patients with early Alzheimer's disease receiving five doses of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) over an eight week period  showed significantly less brain atrophy after 1 year than a placebo group.
  The problem is that IVIG is derived from human donor plasma and is extremely scarce supply. It's primary neurologic application to date has been in the treatment of patients with Guillain-Baré syndrome. Production capabilities for all current suppliers could not begin to provide enough for all patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, let alone the even larger population with mild cognitive impairment.
  Therefore, if a short-term dosing regimen is as effective as continuing therapy, it would extend current supplies that may be provided to a larger number of patients.

Kile S, et al "Initial findings of a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study of intravenous immunoglobulin in mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer disease" AAN 2013; Abstract P01.013.