Pathogenesis and treatment of inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.
Inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy causes a spectrum of conditions ranging from acute (Guillain-Barré syndrome), through subacute to chronic forms. The pathogenesis of acute forms is related to antibody responses against glycolipid epitopes which mimic bacterial, especially Campylobacter jejuni, structures but T cells are also involved. The pathogenesis of chronic forms is poorly understood. Different forms differ in their responses to steroids. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy responds to steroids but a variant multifocal motor neuropathy and the acute forms of inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy do not. Acute and chronic forms respond to plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin.
Hughes
R A
RA
Department of Neuroimmunology, Guy's King's and St. Thomas' School of Medicine, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
D005732:Gangliosides / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D020277:Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
D005732:Gangliosides