LONG-TERM THERAPY WITH HIGH-DOSE INTRAVENOUS IMMUNOGLOBULINS (IVIG) IN INFLAMMATORY NEUROPATHIES

Clinical data about the course of long-term IVIG treatment in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and in multifocal mot or neuropathy (MMN) are sparse, Twenty patients with CIDP or MMN were investigated during up to 65 months of high-dose intravenous immunoglo bulin (IVIG) therapy in an open and prospective study. In all therapy- responders (18/20), amelioration of symptoms was evident within the fi rst 3 weeks of treatment, Dosage was reduced slowly according to the c linical symptoms. All 18 patients now show very few or no symptoms. Th e mean value of the Rankin disability scale changed from 2.5 to 1.1 du ring therapy, Ten patients are still regularly given IVIG. In eight pa tients no Further therapy has been necessary for 7-63 months, Treatmen t could even be stopped in one patient after 46 months or therapy. No marked clinical side-effects were observed during 529 months of IVIG t herapy, IVIG therapy is safe, and remains effective in the long-term t reatment or CIDP and MMN.