Effect of steroid and high-dose immunoglobulin therapy on opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome occurring in neuroblastoma

Med Pediatr Oncol. 1998 Jan;30(1):15-7. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1096-911x(199801)30:1<15::aid-mpo6>3.0.co;2-3.

Abstract

The authors describe a case of an 8-month-old boy with opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) and coincident unresectable neuroblastoma (NB). He achieved a complete remission for NB after 6 courses of standard-dose chemotherapy without significant neurological improvement despite the use of steroids and high-dose immunoglobulin (HIG), administered separately. Only the combined treatment withthese two drugs induced a complete disappearance of neurological symptoms. On the basis of this experience, the authors suggest the association of steroids plus HIG for the treatment of OMS in patients not responsive to conventional first line therapy with steroids.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / therapeutic use*
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Passive* / methods
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Myoclonus / drug therapy
  • Myoclonus / etiology
  • Myoclonus / therapy*
  • Neuroblastoma / complications*
  • Neuroblastoma / drug therapy
  • Neuroblastoma / therapy*
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / drug therapy
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / etiology
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / therapy*
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Dexamethasone