Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy responsive to mycophenolate mofetil therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).


BACKGROUND
Evidence is growing that MMF is effective as an immunomodulatory drug in neuromuscular diseases.


METHODS
A database of 184 patients with CIDP was analysed to obtain clinical, laboratory and electrophysiological information for patients with CIDP treated with MMF.


RESULTS
Eight patients, who met the inclusion criteria, received MMF (mean dose 2 g/day; median duration 15.2 months). The average Neuropathy Impairment Score of the eight patients improved from baseline (72.3+/-35) after initiation of MMF therapy (37.8+/-37; p<0.001). Six of these eight patients were either able to stop concomitant medications (corticosteroid, intravenous immunoglobulin) or reduce their doses and frequency by > or = 50%.


CONCLUSIONS
Our pilot data suggest that MMF appears to be an effective therapy for patients with naive or refractory CIDP, and further controlled studies are warranted for their confirmation.
Bedi
Gurdesh
G
Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
Brown
Andrew
A
Tong
Tao
T
Sharma
Khema R
KR
D000328:Adult; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid