How is Alpers disease treated?

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How is Alpers disease treated?

There are no treatments to slow or stop Alpers disease. But your provider may recommend treatments to help manage symptoms. These treatments can help you feel more comfortable and improve your quality of life. Treatments for symptoms include:

  • Anticonvulsant medications, to help lessen seizures.
  • Feeding tube (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy), to help with nutrition and hydration.
  • Frequent, small, low-protein meals.
  • Massage, to reduce stress.
  • Occupational therapy, to help you learn to perform daily tasks.
  • Pain relievers and muscle relaxants.
  • Physical therapy, to treat spasticity and improve muscle tone.
  • Speech therapy.
  • Supportive ventilation, such as CPAP, BiPAP or tracheostomy, to improve breathing.

Your provider may suggest tests every few months to monitor your health and change treatments as needed. These tests may include:

  • Complete blood count (CBC).
  • Electrolyte monitoring.
  • Elevated liver enzymes test.
  • Liver function test.

They may also suggest other tests depending on how your symptoms progress:

  • Brainstorm Auditory Evoke Potential.
  • EEG.
  • Pulmonary function testing.
  • Sleep disorder testing (polysomnography).
  • Swallowing evaluation.
  • Vascular ultrasound of the liver.

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