Quality of life in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy patients treated with subcutaneous immunoglobulin

Subcutaneous immunoglobulins (SCIG) for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP): A comprehensive systematic review of clinical studies and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) presents significant treatment challenges due to its chronic nature, varied clinical presentations, and rarity. Subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) has emerged as a maintenance therapy, offering potential advantages in administration and patient experience over the previously recognized intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

METHODS

We included all clinical studies involving CIDP patients treated with SCIG from eleven databases up to March 2024.

RESULTS

50 clinical studies were included in the systematic review, with 22 involved in the meta-analysis. These studies offer clinical data on around 1400 CIDP patients. Almost all studies considered SCIG a maintenance therapy, with the majority of results suggesting it as a viable substitute that may offer comparable or enhanced advantages. Studies covered aspects such as efficacy, safety, quality of life, practicality, economic evaluation, and patient preference. Meta-analysis showed SCIG significantly improved muscle strength and sensory function, had fewer and milder side effects, reduced relapse rates, and received a strong preference.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that SCIG for CIDP maintenance not only provides a more feasible alternative, with economic evaluations showing considerable cost reductions over time, and patient preference for SCIG being pronounced, but may also deliver comparable or superior health outcomes. Ongoing research lines on formulations, techniques, and direct comparative studies are critical to further illuminate, enhance, and expand SCIG's role in treatment.

Standardized Tapering off Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin in Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

BACKGROUND

Attempting discontinuation of treatment in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is recommended. However, there is no evidence based regimen for tapering off subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG). This trial investigated stepwise tapering off SCIG to detect remission and the lowest effective dosage. During tapering off, frequent vs less frequent clinical evaluation was compared.

METHODS

Patients with CIDP receiving a stable SCIG dosage followed a standardized tapering off regimen: 90%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0% of the initial dose every 12th week, pending no deterioration occurred. In case of relapse during tapering off, the lowest effective dose was identified. Treatment with SCIG was registered for two years after participation. Disability score and grip strength were primary parameters. Participants were randomized to clinical evaluation every 6th week (frequent) or 12th week (less frequent).

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients were included of which thirty-five relapsed. Twenty patients (36%) were able to discontinue treatment without relapse. In relapsing patients, median dosage could be reduced by 10% (range, 0-75). After two years, 18 of 20 patients were still in remission without treatment. Frequent clinical evaluation did not detect deterioration more frequently than less frequent evaluation; RR 0.5 (95% CI, 0.2-1.2) (p = 0.17).

CONCLUSION

In stable CIDP patients, SCIG could be completely tapered off in 36% of the patients and only in 10% of these patients relapse occurred during the following two years. More frequent evaluation was not superior to detect deterioration.

Clinical outcome of CIDP one year after start of treatment: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To assess clinical outcome in treatment-naive patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP).

METHODS

We included adult treatment-naive patients participating in the prospective International CIDP Outcome Study (ICOS) that fulfilled the European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society (EFNS/PNS) diagnostic criteria for CIDP. Patients were grouped based on initial treatment with (1) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), (2) corticosteroid monotherapy or (3) IVIg and corticosteroids (combination treatment). Outcome measures included the inflammatory Rasch-built overall disability scale (I-RODS), grip strength, and Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score. Treatment response, treatment status, remissions (improved and untreated), treatment changes, and residual symptoms or deficits were assessed at 1 year.

RESULTS

Forty patients were included of whom 18 (45%) initially received IVIg, 6 (15%) corticosteroids, and 16 (40%) combination treatment. Improvement on ≥ 1 of the outcome measures was seen in 31 (78%) patients. At 1 year, 19 (48%) patients were still treated and fourteen (36%) patients were in remission. Improvement was seen most frequently in patients started on IVIg (94%) and remission in those started on combination treatment (44%). Differences between groups did not reach statistical significance. Residual symptoms or deficits ranged from 25% for neuropathic pain to 96% for any sensory deficit.

CONCLUSIONS

Improvement was seen in most patients. One year after the start of treatment, more than half of the patients were untreated and around one-third in remission. Residual symptoms and deficits were common regardless of treatment.

Impact of subcutaneous immunoglobulin on quality of life in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy previously treated with intravenous immunoglobulin

INTRODUCTION/AIMS

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is a common therapy for patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). IVIg may cause systemic adverse events (AEs); therefore, infusion of subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) may be preferred by some patients. In this study we document the experiences of patients transitioning from IVIg to SCIg.

METHODS

Transitioning subjects with CIDP were followed in a 6-month prospective, open-label study. The primary endpoint was percentage of subjects who withdrew for any reason (including significant AEs). The secondary endpoint was symptom progression or relapse requiring a change in management. Quality of life (QOL) and treatment satisfaction were assessed using the Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36), Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM), and Chronic Acquired Polyneuropathy Patient-Reported Index (CAP-PRI). Efficacy was assessed using the Inflammatory Rasch-built Overall Disability Scale, hand-held dynamometry, limb motor strength testing (LMST), and timed 25-ft walk (T25-FW).

RESULTS

Fifteen CIDP subjects transitioned from IVIg to SCIg. Of these, three (20%) met the primary endpoint and one (7%) met the secondary endpoint. The SF-36 showed a statistically significant improvement for the domain of role limitations-physical after 24 weeks (P = .03), with no significant differences observed in other domains. TSQM and CAP-PRI showed significant differences in favor of SCIg (P = .003 and .02, respectively). No significant differences were observed in efficacy after 24 weeks, except for LMST, which favored SCIg (P = .003). Eight of the 12 study completers (67%) continued with SCIg.

DISCUSSION

Transition to SCIg was associated with maintained efficacy and improved QOL.

A Global Survey of Disease Burden in Patients Who Carry a Diagnosis of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

Introduction

The extent to which work productivity, emotional well-being, social interactions, and family life are impacted in patients who self-identify as having chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is not well characterized.

Methods

Data from an online survey of 595 individuals with self-reported CIDP, recruited by the Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS)/CIDP Foundation, were used to assess disease and treatment burden. A total of 37% of patients were classified as “likely”, 34% as “somewhat likely”, and 28% as “unlikely” CIDP.

Results

Of ten symptoms that patients with CIDP may experience, each symptom was experienced by 77–94% of “likely”, 79–96% of “somewhat likely”, and 66–91% of “unlikely” patients. In “likely” CIDP patients 44% stopped working because of their symptoms and 24% moved to a new home. The most common treatments were intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) infusion and corticosteroids. IVIg was associated with venous access issues and work/school absenteeism.

Conclusions

CIDP diagnostic confirmation was not performed in any of the survey respondents. Our results do not add any knowledge on the diagnosis or treatment of CIDP. Our findings do provide insight into the symptoms that patients that think they have CIDP or have been told they have CIDP experience, explores how patients that are labeled as having CIDP view treatment expectations, and highlights how these symptoms affect home and work life. We hope that the findings are constructively used to get patients the services they need to improve quality of life, maintain employment, and ensure a safe home environment regardless of diagnostic accuracy.