A Regression of Miller Fisher Syndrome using Photic Feedback: Possibility of a New Complementary Therapy

  • Kamei, Tsutomu (Shimane Institute of Health Science, Department of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science) ;
  • Toriumi, Yoshitaka (Department of Pediatrics, Shimane Medical University) ;
  • Kumano, Hiroaki (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University of Tokyo) ;
  • Yasushi, Mitsuo (Corporate Research & Development Laboratories)
  • Published : 2002.08.01

Abstract

We present a case of The Miller Fisher Syndrome (MFS), showing a remission during a recently developed noninvasive therapy. Two weeks after an appearance of cough and fever, a 35 years old Japanese male developed diplopia, ataxia and numbness of his fingers and toes. He was diagnosed as MFS, and a fixed dose of prednisolone acetate (60mg/day) was administered for 3 months, but little improvement was observed. In addition to this administration, we tried 20 minutes of Photic Feedback (PFB) treatment daily for 40 days. The PFB system detects brain waves from the subject's forehead, and extracts alpha waves by the band-pass filter with a center frequency set at 10.0Hz. It also simultaneously modulates the augmentation of a red light-emitting diode, corresponding with the amplitudes of the extracted alpha waves. In this treatment, this adjusted photic stimulation was given to the subject's closed eyes, resulting in the effective alpha enhancement by photic driving response. The numbness increased during each of PFB treatment, but the symptoms started to improve gradually after 10 days. Other symptoms disappeared after 40 days. CD20 levels increased with this treatment. This case suggests that the PFB treatment may speed the natural remission of MFS. This treatment may be worth considering in patients who suffer polyneuropathy.

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