title: Neuropathies associated with monoclonal gammapathies.
abstract: There is increasing evidence that monoclonal proteins are implicated in the development of peripheral neuropathy. Approximately ten percent of patients with peripheral neuropathy of unknown cause have a monoclonal protein and this rate is significantly higher than prevalence rates of monoclonal protein in comparable segments of the general population. Extensive clinical, electrophysiological and immunopathological evidences indicate that peripheral neuropathy associated with monoclonal protein are heterogeneous, including: 1. the demyelinating, predominantly sensory neuropathies associated with anti-MAG antibodies; 2. the axonal, sensory neuropathies associated with anti-sulfatide and anti-chondroitin sulfate antibodies; 3. the motor neuropathies associated with anti-GM1 antibodies. Patients with chronic polyneuropathies should be evaluated for underlying plasma cell dyscrasia.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Neurologica, Istituto Scientifico S. Raffaele, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nemni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gerosa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piccolo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Merlini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D010266:Paraproteins / Q000276:immunology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010266:Paraproteins; D011241:Prednisone