title: Subcutaneous versus intravenous immunoglobulin for chronic autoimmune neuropathies: A meta-analysis.
abstract: High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is an evidence-based treatment for multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Recently, subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SC-Ig) has received increasing attention.
  
  
  
  We performed a meta-analysis of reports of efficacy and safety of SC-Ig versus IVIg for inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies.
  
  
  
  A total of 8 studies comprising 138 patients (50 with MMN and 88 with chronic CIDP) were included in the meta-analysis. There were no significant differences in muscle strength outcomes in MMN and CIDP with Sc-Ig (MMN: effect size [ES] = 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.31-1.61; CIDP: ES = 0.84, 95% CI = -0.01-1.69). Additionally SC-Ig had a 28% reduction in relative risk (RR) of moderate and/or systemic adverse effects (95% CI = 0.11-0.76).
  
  
  
  The efficacy of SC-Ig is similar to IVIg for CIDP and MMN and has a significant safety profile. Muscle Nerve 55: 802-809, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Room C7-131, University Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, 339 Windermere Road, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5A5.|Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Racosta
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Room C7-131, University Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, 339 Windermere Road, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5A5.|Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Luciano A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Sposato
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Room C7-131, University Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, 339 Windermere Road, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5A5.|Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimpinski
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D020277:Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
keywords: CIDP; MMN; chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy; immunoglobulin therapy; meta-analysis; multifocal motor neuropathy