[Reversible paraplegia following intrathecal injection of high doses of human gammaglobulins in the treatment of low-grade tetanus. 4 cases]. / Paraplégie réversible après injection intrathécale de fortes doses de gammaglobulines humaines lors du traitement de tétanos de faible gravité. Quatre observations.

Intrathecal serotherapy appears to be effective in the treatment of tetanus, and it has been claimed that human immune globulins are innocuous. In the 4 cases reported here reversible paraplegia developed a few hours after intrathecal injection of 1500 to 2000 UI of human immune globulins prepared by the French Blood Transfusion Centre. We believe that paraplegia was related to the high doses administered. The fact that intrathecal serotherapy is normally used in severely ill patients whose impaired consciousness precludes motricity and sensitivity testing may explain why this complication has not previously been reported. The need for high doses of intrathecal immune globulins is discussed. It has recently been suggested that high doses are superior to low doses. We consider that this form of treatment is justified, even in the least severe forms of tetanus, but we feel that doses higher than 1000 IU are not without danger.

[Activity and tolerance of a new anti-arrhythmia drug, Cibenzoline (Cipralan), administered orally)]. / Etude de l'activité et de la tolérance d'un nouvel anti-arythmique, la Cibenzoline (Cipralan), administré par voie orale.

The authors studied the effect of a new anti-arrhythmic agent, the Cibenzoline in 9 patients suffering from numerous ventricular extrasystoles (on average 8 extrasystoles/minute). Efficacy was considered to be excellent in 3 cases (complete disappearance of extrasystoles) good in 3 cases (more than 90% decrease in the number of extrasystoles) and poor in 3 cases (these concerned two patients also resistant to all other anti-arrhythmic agents and one patient with an extreme variability of his arrhythmia from one day to another day). Clinical and biological tolerance was excellent. Electrocardiographic parameters in general remained stable, apart from in one case of severe cardiomegaly. The general rules usually accepted for adequate evaluation of the efficacy of an anti-arrhythmic agent are reviewed and discussed.