title: Subcutaneous immunoglobulin in CIDP and MMN: a short-term nationwide study.
abstract: This multi-center Italian prospective observational study reports the 4 months follow-up data of 87 patients affected by chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) shifted from intravenous to subcutaneous immunoglobulin treatment. A therapeutic shift from intravenous to subcutaneous immunoglobulin was performed in 87 patients (66 CIDP; 21 MMN) affected by immune-mediated peripheral neuropathies with evidence of a sustained clinical response to intravenous immunoglobulin. Patients were evaluated by means of the Overall Neuropathy Limitation Scale, Medical Research Council Scale and Life Quality Index questionnaire, both at the time of therapeutic shift and after 4 months of subcutaneous immunoglobulin treatment. A sustained clinical efficacy was observed after the switch to subcutaneous immunoglobulin: the Overall Neuropathy Limitation Scale score improved in the group of 66 CIDP patients (P = 0.018), with only one subject reporting a worsening of 1 point, and remained stable in the group of 21 MMN patients (P = 0.841), with one subject reporting a worsening of two points. An improvement in the patient's perception of therapeutic setting was reported in both groups. This large multi-center study confirms the short-term clinical equivalence of subcutaneous versus intravenous immunoglobulin and a possible improvement in the patient's perception of therapeutic setting with the subcutaneous administration. However, further studies are required to extend the results to a longer observational period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126, Turin, Italy, dariococito@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cocito
authors.forename: Aristide
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merola
authors.forename: Erdita
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peci
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzeo
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Francia
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valentino
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liguori
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filosto
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siciliano
authors.forename: Angelo Maurizio
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Clerici
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lelli
authors.forename: Girolama Alessandra
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Marfia
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonini
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cecconi
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nobile-Orazio
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lopiano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D020277:Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous