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IVIg for apparent autoimmune small fibre polyneuropathy

Countrygirl

Countrygirl

Senior Member
Messages
5,468
Location
UK
This was on my newsfeed and looks of considerable interest to those of us with neuropathic pain.


Here's an incredibly important new research article from Harvard/MGH on autoimmunity in small fiber polyneuropathies, and successful treatment with IVIG. SFPN occurs in the majority of patients with POTS, CFS, EDS, CRPS, fibromyalgia, and many other "syndrome" disorders. SFPN can cause symptoms throughout the body. As noted in the article, "[t]he most common are chronic widespread pain and/or itch, postural hypotension and/or tachycardia (POTS), nausea, constipation and/or diarrhea, disordered sweating, followed by urological and sexual dysfunction. Recent studies suggest that SFPN is also associated with symptoms traditionally thought to originate in the brain, including chronic headaches and cognitive concerns. SFPN can even cause abnormal brain blood flow and functional connectivity that might contribute to the “brain fog” some patients report."
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This was a retrospective study of SFPN patients 55 who received IVIG infusions for suspected autoimmune SFPN. Some of them had confirmed autoimmune diagnoses, but most had assorted autoimmune markers not attributed to a specific autoimmune disease (which is very common in POTS and the other syndrome diagnoses listed above). The results showed an overall reduction in pain and improved autonomic function after treatment with IVIG. Some patients experienced a sustained benefit and were able to wean off the IVIG.

The authors suggest that prospective IVIG clinical trials and a better understanding of the immune mechanisms causing SFPN are needed. We couldn't agree more.

We received applications to study SFPN in POTS from the same research group, and more than one application to study IVIG and other immune targeted treatments in POTS in response to our recent POTS Research Fund call for proposals, which generated 31 grant applications from around the world. After a rigorous peer-reviewed process to help us select the best grant applications to fund, we plan to issue $300K in POTS research grants next spring. You can help us fund even more of these amazing grant applications by supporting the POTS Research Fund today! All contributions will be matched in December up to $150,000. www.CurePOTS.org
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Read the research article here: https://neuropathycommons.org/…/IVIG%20TAND-in%20press%20ve…

 
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