title: High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of demyelinating neuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy.
abstract: We treated 2 patients with IgM monoclonal paraproteinemic demyelinating peripheral neuropathy (PPN) with monthly intravenous human immunoglobulin. Both patients had a steadily progressive course in spite of steroid and other immunosuppressive therapy for 3 years before starting the immunoglobulin therapy. Both had a rapid clinical improvement noticeable 5 to 10 days after the 1st immunoglobulin infusion lasting on the average of 3 to 6 weeks. Retreatment caused improvement after each consecutive infusion. There were no significant adverse side effects. High-dose IV human immunoglobulin can be a useful therapy in the treatment of PPN and warrants a large-scale controlled therapeutic trial.
authors.affiliation: National Navy Medical Center, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalakas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galdi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biondi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Porter
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000628:therapy*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins