Future developments in the treatment of immune-mediated polyneuropathies.
The Guillain-Barré syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy are the most extensively studied immune-mediated neuropathies. Randomized treatment studies have been performed with corticosteroids, plasma exchange and more recently with high-dose immunoglobulins. In the future treatment may be more individualized based on specific immunological mechanisms. More immune-modulating treatments will become available also with recombinant DNA technology. This will offer new possibilities, but prior to the effective introduction of these new molecules in the clinical setting, careful consideration and clinical trials are required.
van der Meché
F G
FG
Department of Neurology, University Hospital and Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. vandermeche@neur.azr.nl
van Doorn
P A
PA
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000639:trends*; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors