Abstract

Autoimmune neuropathies and treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins

Author(s): Drasko Simovic

Intravenous immunoglobulins are an effective treatment for a variety of immunemediated neuropathies. The benefits have been recognized from the controlled studies for Guillain–Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and multifocal motor neuropathy. In monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and neuropathy, the effectiveness is variable. Tolerability of intravenous immunoglobulins is very good and adverse reactions are usually minor. Further controlled trials are needed to assess the efficacy of secondary intravenous immunoglobulin infusion in nonresponders in Guillain–Barré syndrome, maintenance intravenous immunoglobulin dose and frequency in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and multifocal motor neuropathy, efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulins in diabetes-associated chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and the benefits of combination therapy with other immunomodulating medications.