Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0029089 (ophthalmoplegia)
 3,338 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Since the first report of a high prevalence of monoclonal gammapathy (MG) in patients with peripheral neuropathy (PN), some 25 years ago, a large number of such associations have been described. Neuropathies associated with MG have heterogeneous clinical, neurophysiological, neuropathological, and hematological features. The most pertinent relationship seems to be that between distal acquired demyelinating sensory (DADS) neuropathy associated with IgM MG of unknown significance (MGUS) and the presence of serum autoantibodies reacting with myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG). Other interesting correlations were recently reported in CANOMAD (chronic ataxic neuropathy with ophthalmoplegia, M-protein and anti-disialosyl antibodies). Patients with demyelinating neuropathy (DNP) associated with MG should be screened for malignant plasma cell dyscrasia. MG is more likely to be responsible for the neuropathy if it consists of IgM, if autoantibodies (mainly directed to MAG) are found in serum or on nerve biopsy, and if the clinical manifestations correspond to chronic distal sensory neuropathy. DNP associated with IgM MGUS sometimes responds to immunotherapy but the potential benefits must be considered in view of possible adverse effects. Rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, has shown promise in this setting. DNP associated with IgG or IgA MGUS may be indistinguishable from chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), in terms of clinical and electrophysiological features and the treatment response. In the POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, and skin changes), appropriate treatment can lead to a drastic improvement in the neuropathy. Patients with chronic axonal polyneuropathy associated with IgG MG should be screened for Al amyloidosis. However, most axonal polyneuropathies associated with IgG or IgM MGUS are indistinguishable from chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathies.
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PMID:[Polyneuropathy associated with monoclonal gammapathy: treatment perspectives]. 2012 Mar 90

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is the commonest chronic idiopathic dysimmune neuropathy. Pathophysiologic processes involve both cellular and humoral immunity. There are various known forms of CIDP, likely caused by varying mechanisms. CIDP in its different forms is a treatable disorder in the majority of patients. The diagnosis of CIDP is clinical, supported routinely by electrophysiology. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis may be helpful. Routine immunology currently rarely adds to the diagnostic process but may contribute to the identification of an associated monoclonal gammopathy with or without hematologic malignancy and the consideration of alternative diagnoses, such as POEMS syndrome, anti-myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG) neuropathy or chronic ataxic neuropathy, with ophthalmoplegia, M-protein, cold aglutinins and disialosyl antibodies (CANOMAD). The search for antibodies specific to CIDP has been unsuccessful for many years. Recently, antibodies to paranodal proteins have been identified in a minority of patients with severe CIDP phenotypes, often unresponsive to first-line therapies. In conjunction with reports of high rates of antibody responses to neural structures in CIDP, this entertains the hope that more discoveries are to come. Although still arguably for only a small minority of patients, in view of current knowledge, such progress will enable earlier accurate diagnosis with direct management implications but only if the important, unfortunately and infrequently discussed issues of immunologic technique, test reliability and reproducibility are adequately tackled.
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PMID:Evolving Immunologic Perspectives in Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. 3298 69