BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an inflammatory disease affecting the peripheral nerves and the most frequent autoimmune polyneuropathy. Given the lack of established biomarkers or risk factors for the development of CIDP and patients' treatment response, this research effort seeks to identify potential clinical factors that may influence disease progression and overall treatment efficacy. METHODS: In this multicenter, retrospective analysis, we have screened 197 CIDP patients who presented to the University Hospitals in Düsseldorf, Berlin, Cologne, Essen, Magdeburg and Munich between 2018 and 2022. We utilized the respective hospital information system and examined baseline data with clinical examination, medical letters, laboratory results, antibody status, nerve conduction studies, imaging and biopsy findings. Aside from clinical baseline data, we analyzed treatment outcomes using the Standard of Care (SOC) definition, as well as a comparison of an early (within the first 12 months after manifestation) versus late (more than 12 months after manifestation) onset of therapy. RESULTS: In terms of treatment, most patients received intravenous immunoglobulin (56%) or prednisolone (39%) as their first therapy. Patients who started their initial treatment later experienced a worsening disease course, as reflected by a significant deterioration in their Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment (INCAT) leg disability score. SOC-refractory patients had worse clinical outcomes than SOC-responders. Associated factors for SOC-refractory status included the presence of fatigue as a symptom and alcohol dependence. CONCLUSION: Timely diagnosis, prompt initiation of treatment and careful monitoring of treatment response are essential for the prevention of long-term disability in CIDP and suggest a "hit hard and early" treatment paradigm.
- MeSH
- chronická zánětlivá demyelinizační polyneuropatie * diagnóza terapie farmakoterapie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- intravenózní imunoglobuliny terapeutické užití aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- kohortové studie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- prednisolon terapeutické užití aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- progrese nemoci MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- multicentrická studie MeSH
Standardized pharmacological response tests are important and established diagnostic tools in the field of neurology. However, regarding therapeutic responses to intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) in CIDP, neither a definition of therapeutic response has been established, nor a response test has been suggested so far. Here we suggest a practical clinical approach which is supported by current literature in the field. An established standardized IVIg response test could avoid prolonged therapy without benefit for the patient and ensure a timely therapy switch or treatment escalation if required. This approach would also be advantageous due to the global scarcity of plasma derivatives as a human resource and could be the foundation to be adjusted and improved by subsequent studies.
- MeSH
- chronická zánětlivá demyelinizační polyneuropatie * terapie MeSH
- intravenózní imunoglobuliny terapeutické užití MeSH
- intravenózní podání MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH