Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment for painful sensory neuropathy associated with Sjögren's syndrome.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Patients with painful sensory neuropathy associated with Sjögren's syndrome-associated neuropathy often show severe neuropathic pain which is not relieved by conventional treatments.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the effect of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy in the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with Sjögren's syndrome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

We examined 5 patients affected by painful sensory neuropathy associated with Sjögren's syndrome. All patients were treated with IVIg (0.4 g/kg/day for 5 days) and pain rating was assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

RESULTS:

All five patients showed a remarkable improvement in neuropathic pain following IVIg therapy. Pain, assessed by the determination of mean VAS score, was reduced by 73.4% from days 2-14 following treatment. The observed clinical improvement persisted for 2 to 6 months. One patient, examined by quantitative sensory testing (QST), showed an improvement of superficial sensory deficit accompanied by pain relief.

CONCLUSION:

IVIg might be an effective treatment for pain in Sjögren's syndrome-associated neuropathy. Further studies should be done in a controlled, blind study.

• Authors: Saori Morozumi, Yuichi Kawagashira, Masahiro Iijima, Haruki Koike, Naoki Hattori, Masahisa Katsuno, Fumiaki Tanaka, Gen Sobue
• Journal: Journal of the neurological sciences (J Neurol Sci) Vol. 279 Issue 1-2 Pg. 57-61 (Apr 15 2009) ISSN: 1878-5883 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 19168191 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous

Topics

• Aged
• Analgesics, Non-Narcotic (therapeutic use)
• Disease Progression
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Median Nerve (physiopathology)
• Middle Aged
• Neural Conduction
• Pain (drug therapy, etiology)
• Pain Measurement
• Peripheral Nervous System Diseases (complications, physiopathology)
• Sjogren's Syndrome (physiopathology)
• Sural Nerve (pathology, physiopathology)
• Tibial Nerve (physiopathology)
• Treatment Outcome