Journal of the neurological sciences
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The prevalence and diagnostic values of myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSAs) and myositis-associated autoantibodies (MAAs) in dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM) were studied. ⋯ MSAs and MAAs serve as biomarkers for differentiating DM/PM from other CTDs as well as distinguishing DM/PM with ILD from DM/PM without ILD.
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Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) are an efficacious treatment for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN). IVIg is considered in patients who have a high suspicion of an inflammatory neuropathy, but do not meet diagnostic criteria. The objective of this retrospective study was to assess which diagnostic results led to the decision to administer IVIg and to determine the rate of improvement. ⋯ There was no association between the presence of the EFNS/PNS supportive criteria, including nerve hypertrophy on ultrasound, and treatment response. In conclusion, enlarged nerves on ultrasound and elevated CSF protein were the main reasons to start IVIg treatment in our study, although findings did not correlate with treatment response. In tertiary referral clinics, IVIg treatment could be considered in selected patients with a high suspicion of an inflammatory neuropathy, especially in those suspected of CIDP.