Single IVIG Infusion Associated with Improved Recovery and Histopathological Profile in Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke

With the aim of determining whether there may be beneficial effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy following acute ischemic stroke, Turkish investigators conducted an exploratory study of IVIG usage in the experimentally induced middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) rat stroke model.

Thirty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two equal groups: a control group (n = 15) and an IVIG group (n = 15). The intraluminal filament used to establish cerebral ischemia was withdrawn after two hours of MCAo to allow reperfusion. Physiological saline (0.5 mL/kg) was administered to the control group and 400 mg/kg IVIG was given intravenously to the IVIG group animals. On subsequent neurological examination, animals were rated from 0 (best) to 3 (worst). Following euthanasia, brain tissue was prepared for histopathological examination.

On neurological examination, the IVIG group showed significantly improved recovery in relation to the control group. While brain tissue specimens obtained from the IVIG group showed findings correlating with grade 1 and 2 histopathology, control group brain specimens had lesions in ischemic areas consistent with grade 3 histopathology. The investigators concluded that IVIG may be useful in the treatment of ischemic stroke patients.