title: Advances in understanding and treatment of immune-mediated disorders of the peripheral nervous system.
abstract: During recent years, novel insights in basic immunology and advances in biotechnology have contributed to an increased understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms of immune-mediated disorders of the peripheral nervous system. This increased knowledge has an impact on the management of patients with this class of disorders. Current advances are outlined and their implication for therapeutic approaches addressed. As a prototypic immune-mediated neuropathy, special emphasis is placed on the pathogenesis and treatment of the Guillain-Barré syndrome and its variants. Moreover, neuropathies of the chronic inflammatory demyelinating, multifocal motor, and nonsystemic vasculitic types are discussed. This review summarizes recent progress with currently available therapies and--on the basis of present immunopathogenetic concepts--outlines future treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kieseier
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kiefer
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hemmer
authors.forename: Hugh J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Willison
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hartung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications; D009462:Neurology / Q000639:trends*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*