Diabetic demyelinating polyneuropathy responsive to intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.
BACKGROUND
There is growing evidence that idiopathic chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and polyneuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) that meets the electrophysiological criteria for CIDP (DM-CIDP) have many similarities.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether DM-CIDP responds to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients (mean [SD] age, 64 [8.9] years; age range, 40-80 years) with type 2 DM (n = 25), who met the electrophysiological criteria for CIDP, were given IVIG therapy (400 mg/kg body weight per day for 5 days) in a prospective open-label pilot study. All patients had quantitative evaluation using the Neuropathy Impairment Score at baseline and at the end of 4 weeks from the initiation of IVIG therapy.


RESULTS
The mean Neuropathy Impairment Score improved significantly from baseline (mean [SD], 61.5 [26.0] points) to the end of the fourth week (33 [29.6] points; P<.00l). This clinically significant improvement occurred in 21 (80.8%) of the 26 patients. Conduction block occurred in 11 (42.3%) of the 26 patients; improvement in the Neuropathy Impairment Score was more frequent in patients who had a conduction block (11 of 11 patients) than in those who did not (10/15 [66.7%]; P =.03). Adverse reactions to IVIG included reversible renal dysfunction in 3 patients, flulike symptoms in 5, headache in 5, and chest pain and shortness of breath in 1.


CONCLUSIONS
Although IVIG therapy seemed to improve DM-CIDP in this uncontrolled trial, a controlled trial is required for confirmation of our findings.
Sharma
Khema R
KR
Department of Neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1150 NW 14th St, Room 603, Miami, FL 33136, USA. ksharma@med.miami.edu
Cross
John
J
Ayyar
D Ram
DR
Martinez-Arizala
Alberto
A
Bradley
Walter G
WG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous