New Review Shows IVIg Treatment Can Help With Chronic Inflammatory Nerve Condition

Filip Eftimov, MD, PhD

Researchers recently updated findings on using intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) for treating a condition called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). CIDP affects the nerves, making it harder for people to move, feel, and do daily activities.

In this updated review, scientists found that IVIg treatment helped more patients improve their movement and abilities within 2 to 6 weeks compared to those who did not receive it.^1,2 They also found that IVIg worked just as well as some steroids, like methylprednisolone and prednisolone, within this short time frame.

In five studies with 269 patients, those who got IVIg had better chances of showing improvement in their disability after 6 weeks. Scientists saw similar results in smaller studies, showing that IVIg helped patients regain some function faster than those who took a placebo (a treatment with no active medicine).

One study with 117 patients found that IVIg probably helped improve symptoms after 24 weeks. However, the researchers noted that while they were confident that IVIg can help improve disability in the short term, more studies are needed to understand how well it works long-term and to compare it to other treatments.

Researchers looked at studies from around the world, focusing on those that compared IVIg with other treatments or a placebo. They studied the changes in disability, muscle strength, and any side effects of the treatments.

Although IVIg seems to be effective in treating CIDP, the scientists pointed out that different studies used different ways to measure improvement, making it hard to compare results directly. The side effects of IVIg were similar to those of other treatments, with no big differences between them.

In the end, more research is needed to see if IVIg remains effective over a longer period and how it compares to other options, such as plasma exchange or steroids. Scientists also want to look closer at potential long-term side effects of using IVIg.

Further research will help determine if IVIg can continue to be a reliable treatment for CIDP in the future.

An original version of this article was published on sister site Neurology Live.

REFERENCES
<sup>1. Bus SR, de Haan RJ, Vermeulen M, van Schaik IN, Eftimov F. Intravenous immunoglobulin for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024;2(2):CD001797. Published 2024 Feb 14. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001797.pub4
2. Eftimov F, Winer JB, Vermeulen M, de Haan R, van Schaik IN. Intravenous immunoglobulin for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(12):CD001797. Published 2013 Dec 30. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001797.pub3</sup>