Pathogenesis and treatment of inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
Hughes, R.A.
Acta Neurologica Belgica 100(3): 167-170
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9009 PMID: 11098290 Document Number: 512949
Inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy causes a spectrum of conditions ranging from acute (Guillain-Barré syndrome), through subacute to chronic forms. The pathogenesis of acute forms is related to antibody responses against glycolipid epitopes which mimic bacterial, especially Campylobacter jejuni, structures but T cells are also involved. The pathogenesis of chronic forms is poorly understood. Different forms differ in their responses to steroids. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy responds to steroids but a variant multifocal motor neuropathy and the acute forms of inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy do not. Acute and chronic forms respond to plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin.