title: Subcutaneous immunoglobulins in the treatment of chronic immune-mediated neuropathies.
abstract: Intravenous immunoglobulins represent an established therapy for the treatment of chronic immune-mediated neuropathies, specifically chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathies (CIDPs) as well as multifocal motor neuropathies (MMNs). For the treatment of antibody deficiency syndromes, subcutaneous immunoglobulins (SCIgs) have represented a mainstay for decades. An emerging body of evidence suggests that SCIg might also exhibit clinical efficacy in CIDP and MMN. This article reviews the current evidence for clinical effectiveness, as well as safety of SCIg for the treatment of immune-mediated neuropathies, and addresses remaining open questions in this context. We conclude that despite the need for controlled long-term studies to demonstrate long-term efficacy of SCIg in immune-mediated neuropathies, SCIg may already represent a potential therapeutic alternative for selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Research Group for Clinical and Experimental Neuroimmunology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Verena I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Leussink
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Research Group for Clinical and Experimental Neuroimmunology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Research Group for Clinical and Experimental Neuroimmunology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kieseier
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stettner
keywords: CIDP; GBS; IVIg; MMN; SCIg; inflammatory neuropathies; pump-system