Arcan A, Kızılkılıç EK, Gündüz A, Unkun R, Vezzani A, Özkara Ç. Rasmussen's syndrome treated with anakinra.
J Neurol 2024;
271:723-726. [PMID:
37922068 DOI:
10.1007/s00415-023-12072-8]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Rasmussen's encephalitis (RE) is a rare chronic neurological disorder, characterized by unilateral inflammation of the cerebral cortex, refractory focal epilepsy or epilepsia partialis continua, hemiparesis, and progressive cognitive decline. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) plays an important role in neuroinflammation as a key element in the activation of the inflammatory IL-1β-IL-1 receptor type 1 (IL-1R1) axis. Anakinra, an IL-1 inhibitor, is successfully used in patients with new onset refractory status epilepticus and febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome.
METHODS AND RESULTS
We present 38-year-old male with RE having right-sided hemiparesis and continuous spasms being unresponsive to immune modulatory therapies like pulse steroid, intravenous immunoglobulin and anti-seizure drugs. After treatment with anakinra for three weeks, the continuous spasms almost completely subsided, and his muscle strength returned to normal.
DISCUSSION
Anakinra may be considered as a treatment option in patients with RE and refractory seizures.
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