Immunotherapy for IgM anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein paraprotein-associated peripheral neuropathies. 2006

M P T Lunn, and E Nobile-Orazio
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Department of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK, WC1N 3BG. michael.lunn@kcl.ac.uk

BACKGROUND Serum monoclonal anti-myelin associated glycoprotein antibodies may be pathogenic in some people with IgM paraprotein and demyelinating neuropathy. Immunotherapies aimed at reducing the level of these antibodies might be expected to be beneficial. OBJECTIVE To examine the efficacy of any form of immunotherapy in reducing disability and impairment resulting from IgM anti-myelin associated glycoprotein paraprotein-associated demyelinating peripheral neuropathy. METHODS We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Register (March 2005), MEDLINE (January 1966 to March 2005) and EMBASE (January 1980 to March 2005) for controlled trials. We also checked bibliographies and contacted authors and experts in the field. METHODS We included randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials of participants of any age treated with any type of immunotherapy for anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein antibody associated demyelinating peripheral neuropathy with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance of any severity. Our primary outcome measure was change in the Neuropathy Impairment Scale or Modified Rankin Scale at six months after randomisationSecondary outcome measures were: Neuropathy Impairment Scale or the Modified Rankin Score at 12 months after randomisation; ten-metre walk time, subjective clinical scores and electrophysiological parameters at six and 12 months after randomisation; IgM paraprotein levels and anti-myelin associated glycoprotein antibody titres at six months after randomisation and adverse effects of treatments. METHODS We identified eight possible trials. Of these, five randomised controlled trials were included after discussion between the authors. One author extracted and the other checked the data. No missing data could be obtained from trial authors. RESULTS The five eligible trials (97 participants) tested intravenous immunoglobulin, interferon-alpha or plasma exchange. Only two, of intravenous immunoglobulin, had comparable interventions and outcomes but both were short-term. There were no significant benefits of the treatments used in the outcomes predefined for this review, but not all the predefined outcomes were used in every included trial. Intravenous immunoglobulin showed benefits in terms of improvement in Modified Rankin Scale at two weeks and 10-metre walk time at four weeks. Serious adverse effects of intravenous immunoglobulin are known to occur from observational studies but none were encountered in these trials. CONCLUSIONS There is inadequate reliable evidence from trials of immunotherapies in anti-myelin associated glycoprotein paraproteinaemic neuropathy to recommend any particular immunotherapy treatment. Intravenous immunoglobulin is relatively safe and may produce some short-term benefit. Large well-designed randomised trials of at least six to 12 months duration are required to assess existing or novel therapies.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007075 Immunoglobulin M A class of immunoglobulin bearing mu chains (IMMUNOGLOBULIN MU-CHAINS). IgM can fix COMPLEMENT. The name comes from its high molecular weight and originally was called a macroglobulin. Gamma Globulin, 19S,IgM,IgM Antibody,IgM1,IgM2,19S Gamma Globulin,Antibody, IgM
D007167 Immunotherapy Manipulation of the host's immune system in treatment of disease. It includes both active and passive immunization as well as immunosuppressive therapy to prevent graft rejection. Immunotherapies
D010265 Paraproteinemias A group of related diseases characterized by an unbalanced or disproportionate proliferation of immunoglobulin-producing cells, usually from a single clone. These cells frequently secrete a structurally homogeneous immunoglobulin (M-component) and/or an abnormal immunoglobulin. Gammapathy, Monoclonal,Gammopathy, Monoclonal,Monoclonal Gammopathies,Paraimmunoglobulinemia,Paraimmunoglobulinemias,Paraproteinemia,Plasma Cell Dyscrasias,Monoclonal Gammapathies,Monoclonal Gammopathy,Cell Dyscrasia, Plasma,Dyscrasia, Plasma Cell,Monoclonal Gammapathy,Plasma Cell Dyscrasia
D010266 Paraproteins Abnormal immunoglobulins synthesized by atypical cells of the MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTE SYSTEM. Paraproteins containing only light chains lead to Bence Jones paraproteinemia, while the presence of only atypical heavy chains leads to heavy chain disease. Most of the paraproteins show themselves as an M-component (monoclonal gammopathy) in electrophoresis. Diclonal and polyclonal paraproteins are much less frequently encountered. Paraprotein
D010523 Peripheral Nervous System Diseases Diseases of the peripheral nerves external to the brain and spinal cord, which includes diseases of the nerve roots, ganglia, plexi, autonomic nerves, sensory nerves, and motor nerves. Peripheral Nerve Diseases,Peripheral Neuropathies,PNS (Peripheral Nervous System) Diseases,PNS Diseases,Peripheral Nervous System Disease,Peripheral Nervous System Disorders,Nerve Disease, Peripheral,Nerve Diseases, Peripheral,Neuropathy, Peripheral,PNS Disease,Peripheral Nerve Disease,Peripheral Neuropathy
D003711 Demyelinating Diseases Diseases characterized by loss or dysfunction of myelin in the central or peripheral nervous system. Clinically Isolated CNS Demyelinating Syndrome,Clinically Isolated Syndrome, CNS Demyelinating,Demyelinating Disorders,Demyelination,Demyelinating Disease,Demyelinating Disorder,Demyelinations
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016032 Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic Works about clinical trials that involve at least one test treatment and one control treatment, concurrent enrollment and follow-up of the test- and control-treated groups, and in which the treatments to be administered are selected by a random process, such as the use of a random-numbers table. Clinical Trials, Randomized,Controlled Clinical Trials, Randomized,Trials, Randomized Clinical
D018992 Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein A myelin protein found in the periaxonal membrane of both the central and peripheral nervous systems myelin sheaths. It binds to cells surface receptors found on AXONS and may regulate cellular interactions between MYELIN and AXONS. Large Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein Isoform,Sialic Acid Binding Ig-Like Lectin 4A,Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 4,Siglec-4,Small Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein Isoform,Large Myelin Associated Glycoprotein Isoform,Myelin Associated Glycoprotein,Sialic Acid Binding Ig Like Lectin 4A,Sialic Acid Binding Ig like Lectin 4,Siglec 4,Small Myelin Associated Glycoprotein Isoform

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