Treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy with intravenous immunoglobulin

Ann Neurol. 1991 Jul;30(1):104-6. doi: 10.1002/ana.410300119.

Abstract

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is an immune-mediated demyelinating peripheral neuropathy usually treated with immunosuppressants. We reviewed our experience treating 15 patients (9 men, 6 women) with intravenous immunoglobulin. Six patients were on other therapies at the time of intravenous immunoglobulin infusions (4, prednisone; 2, prednisone and azathioprine). The dose of intravenous immunoglobulin was either 0.3 or 0.4 gm/kg/day for 4 to 5 days. Transient fever occurred in 1 patient. Subjective improvement in sensory symptoms was reported by almost all patients. Objective improvements in strength or functional tasks occurred in only 3 patients, a man with human immunodeficiency virus infection, a 14-year-old girl, and a woman with an immunoglobulin G kappa paraprotein. Our results suggest that individual patients may respond to intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. A multicenter controlled trial is needed to assess properly the role of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / complications
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Demyelinating Diseases / complications
  • Demyelinating Diseases / drug therapy
  • Demyelinating Diseases / therapy*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Passive*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / therapy
  • Paraproteinemias / complications
  • Polyneuropathies / complications
  • Polyneuropathies / drug therapy
  • Polyneuropathies / therapy*

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents