European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society guideline on management of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy: report of a joint task force of the European Federation of Neurological Societies and the Peripheral Nerve Society - first revision

Immunoadsorption in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy with unsatisfactory response to first-line treatment

BACKGROUND/AIMS

First-line treatment options for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) are corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and plasma exchange. In a significant number of patients, first-line therapy fails, and long-term maintenance treatment still remains a therapeutic challenge. Immunoadsorption (IA) may be an alternative to classical plasma exchange in the therapy of immune-mediated neurologic diseases. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate efficacy and safety of IA in patients with CIDP with unsatisfactory response to first-line treatment options.

METHODS

CIDP patients received adjunct IA treatment using tryptophan-immune adsorbers. The inflammatory neuropathy cause and treatment disability (INCAT) score was used to grade disability and monitor treatment effects.

RESULTS

In total, 14 CIDP patients were analyzed. Ten patients were treated in hospital. After one IA treatment series, the INCAT score decreased significantly in all 10 patients. Four of these 14 patients were treated in outpatient clinics using long-term maintenance IA with 1-2 treatments per week. In these 4 patients, effects of long-term maintenance IA resulted in an improvement of overall disability. In all patients, IA was safe, well tolerated, and no severe adverse effects occurred.

CONCLUSION

IA could be an effective and safe option for CIDP patients with unsatisfactory response to first-line treatment options and for long-term maintenance treatment.

Thromboembolic complications of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in patients with neuropathy: a two-year study

BACKGROUND

The incidence and determinants of thromboembolic complications (TEC) of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy in patients with dysimmune neuropathy are uncertain.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of patients with dysimmune neuropathy seen at our institution and treated with IVIg, over a 24-month period.

RESULTS

Sixty-two patients were treated with a total of 616 courses of IVIg. TEC occurred in 7 patients. In 5, these occurred within 14 days after IVIg infusion ("early TEC"). Early TEC were significantly more frequent after courses administered to IVIg-naïve patients (3/25 vs. 2/591 courses; p<0.001), but incidences were comparable in newly- vs. previously-treated patients (3/25 vs. 2/44 patients; p=0.34). Early TEC included 2 cases of myocardial infarction, one of acute coronary syndrome, one of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with pulmonary embolism and one of isolated DVT. Mean dose per course was comparable in affected and unaffected patients (p=0.47), but administration of daily doses ≥ 35 g correlated significantly with occurrence of early TEC (p=0.028). Previous coronary disease (p=0.037) and immobility at time of treatment (p=0.049) were independent predictors of early TEC. Patients with early TEC had significantly more risk factors (p<0.001), and were significantly more likely to have ≥ 4 risk factors (p=0.006), than those without early TEC.

CONCLUSION

The risk of TEC with IVIg is not negligible in patients with neuropathy. Although higher with a first-ever infusion, the general risk may be comparable in IVIg-naïve and previously-treated patients. Administration of daily doses ≥ 35 g of IVIg may carry a greater risk of early TEC. Coronary disease, immobility at time of treatment, presence of ≥ 4 risk factors, should lead to caution and consideration of alternative treatments.

Demyelinating neuropathy with anti-CRMP5 antibodies predating diagnosis of breast carcinoma: favorable outcome after cancer therapy

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer is exceptionally associated with anti-collapsin response mediator protein 5 (anti-CRMP5) antibody or demyelinating neuropathy. This paraneoplastic antibody is itself not associated with demyelinating neuropathy.

METHODS

Herein we describe a patient with a predominantly sensory ataxic demyelinating neuropathy associated with an IgG-kappa monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS). Further investigations led to identification of anti-CRMP5 antibodies. An initial search for a malignancy proved negative. No immunomodulatory therapy was administered.

RESULTS

The patient developed breast carcinoma 2 years after the initial neurological symptoms, which was effectively treated by surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiotherapy. At neurological follow-up, 16 months after cancer treatment, she remained in remission and had made substantial neurological recovery. Electrophysiology showed significant amelioration, and serum anti-CRMP5 antibodies were undetectable. MGUS paraprotein level was unchanged.

CONCLUSION

This case widens the range of paraneoplastic manifestations of breast carcinoma to include anti-CRMP5 antibody-positive sensory ataxic demyelinating neuropathy, which, in this patient, improved after cancer treatment.

Non-anti-MAG DADS neuropathy as a variant of CIDP: clinical, electrophysiological, laboratory features and response to treatment in 10 cases

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Some patients within the spectrum of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathies (CIDP) have distal acquired demyelinating symmetric (DADS) neuropathy, usually associated with anti-myelin-associated-glycoprotein (MAG) IgM monoclonal gammopathy. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate patients with DADS neuropathy without anti-MAG antibodies, and study their response to immunotherapy.

METHODS

Patients were selected on the basis of (i) 'Definite CIDP' according to the EFNS/PNS Guideline criteria, (ii) The presence of disproportionately prolonged motor latencies resulting in a terminal latency index (TLI) ≤ 0.25 in at least two motor nerves and (iii) The absence of anti-MAG antibodies on ELISA. Response to immunotherapy was defined as persistent improvement by at least one point on the INCAT disability score.

RESULTS

Data from 146 CIDP patients were analysed, and 10 patients were included. Six had clinically pure sensory neuropathy, and four had sensorimotor neuropathy. Ataxia was present in nine patients, generalized areflexia in seven and postural tremor in two. Five of the 10 patients had abnormal sensory potentials only in the upper limbs. An associated condition was found in nine patients: two chronic lymphocytic leukaemias, four IgG monoclonal gammopathies (one associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) and two IgM monoclonal gammopathies of unknown significance. Patients were mostly improved with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), corticosteroids, plasma exchanges, or a combination thereof.

CONCLUSION

DADS neuropathy without anti-MAG antibodies is more likely to be considered a variant of CIDP. In addition, such patients should be systematically investigated for an associated haematological or immunological condition.

Immunomodulatory treatment other than corticosteroids, immunoglobulin and plasma exchange for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy

BACKGROUND

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy is a disease causing progressive or relapsing and remitting weakness and numbness. It is probably due to an autoimmune process. Immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory drugs would be expected to be beneficial.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to review systematically the evidence from randomised trials of cytotoxic drugs and interferons other than corticosteroids, immunoglobulin and plasma exchange for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Specialised Register (May 2010), The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library, Issue 2), MEDLINE (January 1977 to May 2010), EMBASE (January 1980 to May 2010), CINAHL (January 1982 to May 2010) and LILACS (January 1982 to May 2010). We contacted the authors of the trials identified and other disease experts seeking other published and unpublished trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We sought randomised and quasi-randomised trials of all immunosuppressive agents such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, ciclosporin A, mycophenolate mofetil, and rituximab and all immunomodulatory agents such as interferon alfa and interferon beta in participants fulfilling standard diagnostic criteria for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently selected trials, judged their methodological quality and extracted data. We wanted to measure the change in disability after one year as our primary outcome. Our secondary outcomes were change in disability after four or more weeks (from randomisation), change in impairment after at least one year, change in maximum motor nerve conduction velocity and compound muscle action potential amplitude after one year and for those participants who were receiving corticosteroids or intravenous immunoglobulin, the amount of this medication given during at least one year after randomisation. Participants with one or more serious adverse events during the first year was also a secondary outcome.

MAIN RESULTS

Four trials fulfilled the selection criteria, one of azathioprine (27 participants), two of interferon beta-1a (77 participants in total) and one of methotrexate (60 participants). None of these trials showed significant benefit in the primary outcome or secondary outcomes selected for this review.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The evidence from randomised trials does not show significant benefit from azathioprine, interferon beta-1a or methotrexate but none of the trials was large enough to rule out small or moderate benefit. The evidence from observational studies is insufficient to avoid the need for randomised controlled trials to discover whether these drugs are beneficial. Future trials should have improved designs, more sensitive outcome measures and longer durations.

Plasma exchange for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy

BACKGROUND

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy is an uncommon progressive or relapsing paralysing disease caused by inflammation of the peripheral nerves. If the hypothesis that it is due to autoimmunity is correct, removal of autoantibodies in the blood by plasma exchange should be beneficial.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of plasma exchange in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Neuromuscular Disease Group Register (December 2003), and MEDLINE (January 1966 to January 2003), EMBASE (January 1980 to January 2003), CINAHL (January 1982 to December 2002) and LILACS (January 1982 to January 2003). We also scrutinised the bibliographies of the trials, and contacted the trial authors and other disease experts.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials in participants of any age comparing plasma exchange with sham treatment or no treatment. A trial showing no significant difference in the benefit from plasma exchange with intravenous immunoglobulin has been included in a separate Cochrane review.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors selected the trials, extracted the data and assessed methodological quality independently. Where possible data were combined according to the methods of the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Review Group.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

one crossover trial including 18 participants showed 2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8 to 3.0) points more improvement after four weeks in an 11-point disability scale with plasma exchange (10 exchanges over four weeks) than with sham exchange. Rapid deterioration after plasma exchange occurred in eight of 12 who had improved.

SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

when the results of this trial and another with 29 participants treated in a parallel group design trial were combined, there were 31 points (95% CI 16 to 45) more improvement in an impairment scale after plasma exchange (six exchanges over three weeks) than after sham exchange. There were significant improvements in both trials in an electrophysiological measure, the proximally evoked compound muscle action potential, after three or four weeks. Non-randomised evidence indicates that plasma exchange induces adverse events in 3% to 17% of procedures. These are sometimes serious.

REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS

Evidence from two small trials showed that plasma exchange provides significant short-term benefit in about two-thirds of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy but rapid deterioration may occur afterwards. Adverse events related to difficulty with venous access, use of citrate and haemodynamic changes are not uncommon. More research is needed to identify agents which will prolong the beneficial action of plasma exchange.