Accumulating evidence has suggested an autoimmune component to drug-resistant epilepsy. Now, immunotherapy in 27 patients with uncontrolled seizures with suspected autoimmune aetiology has shown striking results. At a median follow-up of 10 months, 22 patients (81%) exhibited substantial improvements in seizure status, and 18 patients (67%) were seizure-free. These results suggest that the treatment of autoimmunity could help to address the large unmet medical need of drug resistance in epilepsy.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Quek, A. M. et al. Autoimmune epilepsy: clinical characteristics and response to immunotherapy. Arch. Neurol. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2011.2985
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Immunotherapy could benefit treatment-resistant epilepsy. Nat Rev Neurol 8, 242 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2012.73
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2012.73