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Table 1 Characteristics of the selected trials
Number of
Study
Study
Inclusion criteria
patients (%
Age (years)
Intervention
Outcomes
design
men)
Bertolasi
RCT
[2013]
18-70 y, history of paralytic
I: 24 (50)
I: 54.9 ± 5.7
I: 0.4 g/kg/d × 5 d
QoL, gait, muscle
polio; clinical stability > 15
P: 26 (50)
P: 58.3 ± 5.6
P: saline at the same volume
strength, fatigue, pain at
years; new symptoms
2 and 4 mo
fulfilling the EFNS
guidelines criteria
Farbu
RCT
[2007]
Ambulatory patients
I: 10 (40)
I: 59.9 ± 6.2
I: 2 g/kg infused for 24 d
Pain, muscle strength,
fulfilling the diagnostic
P: 10 (30)
P: 58.7 ± 6.8
P: saline at the same volume
fatigue at 1, 3, and 6
criteria for PPS
mo; changes in serum
and CSF cytokine levels
at 1 mo
Gonzalez
RCT
[2006]
18-75 y, history of polio;
I: 73 (29)
I: 61.5 ± 9.2
I: 30 g × 3 d, twice at 3-mo
QoL, balance, fatigue,
increased weakness, fatigue,
P: 69 (42)
P: 59.0 ± 10.0
intervals
gait, muscle strength,
and pain fulfilling the
P: glucose water at the same
physical activity, sleep
diagnostic criteria for PPS
volume
quality, and pain at
913wk
Gonzalez
Prospective
[2012]
18-75 y, history of polio;
I: 20 (30)
I: 61.7 (5275)†
I: 30 g × 3 d, twice at 3-mo
Cytokine expression in
increased weakness,
P: 21 (43)
P: 61.9 (4675)
intervals
PBMCs and CSF, QoL,
fatigue, and pain fulfilling
P: glucose water at the same
gait, pain at 1 year
the diagnostic criteria for
volume
PPS
Gonzalez
Prospective
[2004]
Patients fulfilling the
I: 16 (56)
I: 58.5 (4370)†
I: 30 g × 3 d
diagnostic criteria for PPS
Cytokine expression in
PBMCs and CSF at 68
wk
Kaponides
Prospective
[2006]
Patients fulfilling the
I: 14 (57)
I: 57 (4367)†
I: 30 g × 3 d
diagnostic criteria for PPS
QoL at 2 and 6 mo;
physical performance
and muscle strength at 2
mo
Östlund
Prospective
[2012]
Werhagen
Patients fulfilling the
I: 113 (45)
I: 66 ± 10
I: 90 g infused for 3 d
diagnostic criteria for PPS
Prospective
Patients with PPS
QoL, physical activity,
and pain at 6 mo
I: 45 (36)
I: 61 (3688)†
I: 30 g × 3 d
Pain at 6 mo
[2011]
CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; EFNS, European Federation of Neurological Societies; I: intravenous immunoglobulin group; IVIg, intravenous immunoglobulin;
P, placebo group; PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Polio, poliomyelitis; PPS, post-polio syndrome; QoL, quality of life; Data presented as the
mean ± standard deviation except † mean (range)
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