title: Contribution of electron microscopy to the study of neuropathies associated with an IgG monoclonal paraproteinemia.
abstract: A typical monoclonal IgG dysglobulinemia whether benign (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, MGUS) or malignant can give rise to peripheral neuropathy by damaging nerves. At first, neurotoxicity of the chemotherapy if the patient is treated must be ruled out in such cases. Indeed, a variety of other mechanisms have been described: endoneurial deposits of immunoglobulin, infiltration of the immunoglobulin within myelin sheaths, POEMS syndrome, deposits of amyloid, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and infiltration of malignant cells. Ultrastructural examination of a nerve biopsy can be decisive in combination with routine histological and immunopathological examinations. Characterization of the mechanism of the neuropathy in a dysglobulinemic context is important as it governs therapeutic options, which in certain cases are particularly beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital, 2 Avenue Martin Luther King, 87042 Limoges Cedex, France. jean-michel.vallat@unilim.fr
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vallat
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Magy
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sturtz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Couratier
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D010954:Plasmacytoma
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G