[Neuroimmunological aspects of the pathogenesis of Tourette syndrome and use of immunoglobulins in the treatment of children].
Sixty children, aged from 6 to 16 years, with tics and Tourette syndrome have been studied. Western immunoblotting techniques has been used to evaluate the serum antibodies against the caudate nucleus. These antibodies have been detected in 10 cases. Seven patients with Tourette syndrome who were treated with neuroleptics for a long time without any therapeutical effect received the immunomodulatory therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin. The regression of motor and vocal tics as well as improvement of behavioral symptoms were observed (duration of remission was more than 6 months). These findings and successful immunomodulatory therapy of patients with Tourette syndrome confirm previous reports in the literature and support the idea of immunologically triggered disturbance of the striatal dopaminergic system.