Guide CidpUsa

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Variants Section

(Diseases can present with different symptoms or variations)

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IVIG in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes.

Goebel A, Netal S, Schedel R, Sprotte G.

Klinik fur Anaesthesiologie, University Wurzburg, Wurzburg, Germany.

Objective. To examine the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in chronic pain. Design. A prospective multiple-dose, open-label cohort study in 130 consecutive patients who suffered from 12 chronic pain syndromes. The largest symptom groups were (number of patients): Fibromyalgia (48); Spinal pain (20); Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS, 11); Peripheral neuropathic pain (12); and atypical facial pain (11).  . Results. Overall, 20% of patients had>70% pain relief and 27.7% of patients reported relief between 25% and 70%. Six patients (4.6%) had moderately increased pain levels for a duration of up to 9 weeks.  Good relief, of more than 70%, was found in all major symptom groups. Patients with pain of short duration (<2 years) reported high relief rates (33.8% of patients in this group reported relief openface>70%). No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions. IVIG may be effective in patients suffering from chronic pain.

PMID: 15102158 [PubMed - in process]Management of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

Hughes RA.

Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, London, UK.

This review briefly describes current concepts concerning the nosological status, pathogenesis and management of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). CIDP is an uncommon variable disorder of unknown but probably autoimmune aetiology. The commonest form of CIDP causes more or less symmetrical progressive or relapsing weakness affecting proximal and distal muscles. Against this background the review describes the short-term responses to corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and plasma exchange that have been confirmed in randomised trials. In the absence of better evidence about long-term efficacy, corticosteroids or IVIg are usually favoured because of convenience. Benefit following introduction of azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporin, other immunosuppressive agents, and interferon-beta and -alpha has been reported but randomised trials are needed to confirm these benefits. In patients with pure motor CIDP and multifocal motor neuropathy, corticosteroids may cause worsening and IVIg is more likely to be effective. General measures to rehabilitate patients and manage symptoms, including foot drop, weak hands, fatigue and pain, are important.


PMID: 12534332 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Continue to next page of CIDP variants
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