TY - JOUR
T1 - High-dose Ig VENA is well tolerated and efficacious in patients with multifocal motor neuropathy
AU - Nobile-Orazio, Eduardo
AU - Cocito, Dario
AU - Briani, Chiara
AU - Plasmati, Rosaria
AU - Schenone, Angelo
AU - Gallia, Francesca
AU - Marjanovic, Ivan
AU - Suffredini, Anna Lotti
PY - 2017/5/1
Y1 - 2017/5/1
N2 - Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is a rare, chronic, motor neuropathy that progressively impairs physical functioning and quality of life. Randomised controlled trials have shown that high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is superior to placebo in improving muscle strength and disability, but many patients require periodic infusions to maintain long-term improvement. This observational, multicentre, retrospective study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of human normal immunoglobulin (Ig VENA) at high intravenous infusion rates in 20 MMN patients (14 male, 6 female). Thirty days after the first infusion, there was an improvement of at least 1 point in two muscles compared to baseline on the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale and of 1 point in the ONLS (Overall Neuropathy Limitation Scale) scale in 15 patients (75%) and 10 patients (50%), respectively; 45% improved on both scales. At 6 months, 100% of 12 patients had improved on the MRC and 79% of 14 patients had improved on the ONLS scale; 83% improved on both scales. All reported adverse drug reactions (ADR) were mild, transient and possibly related to the study drug. Four patients (20%) reported ADRs, three reported headache and one fever. There were no serious or unexpected ADRs. By confirming that high-dose Ig VENA is efficacious and well tolerated, this study adds to the evidence base for IVIg in MMN and potentially increases clinicians’ and patients’ choice of therapy.
AB - Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is a rare, chronic, motor neuropathy that progressively impairs physical functioning and quality of life. Randomised controlled trials have shown that high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is superior to placebo in improving muscle strength and disability, but many patients require periodic infusions to maintain long-term improvement. This observational, multicentre, retrospective study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of human normal immunoglobulin (Ig VENA) at high intravenous infusion rates in 20 MMN patients (14 male, 6 female). Thirty days after the first infusion, there was an improvement of at least 1 point in two muscles compared to baseline on the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale and of 1 point in the ONLS (Overall Neuropathy Limitation Scale) scale in 15 patients (75%) and 10 patients (50%), respectively; 45% improved on both scales. At 6 months, 100% of 12 patients had improved on the MRC and 79% of 14 patients had improved on the ONLS scale; 83% improved on both scales. All reported adverse drug reactions (ADR) were mild, transient and possibly related to the study drug. Four patients (20%) reported ADRs, three reported headache and one fever. There were no serious or unexpected ADRs. By confirming that high-dose Ig VENA is efficacious and well tolerated, this study adds to the evidence base for IVIg in MMN and potentially increases clinicians’ and patients’ choice of therapy.
KW - Efficacy
KW - High dose
KW - Ig VENA
KW - Immunoglobulin therapy
KW - Multifocal motor neuropathy
KW - Tolerability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85011300220&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85011300220&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10072-017-2826-8
DO - 10.1007/s10072-017-2826-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 28144763
AN - SCOPUS:85011300220
VL - 38
SP - 899
EP - 902
JO - Neurological Sciences
JF - Neurological Sciences
SN - 1590-1874
IS - 5
ER -