Molecularly targeted therapies for dysimmune neuropathies

Abstract

Conventional treatment options, including corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, or plasma exchange, often fail to treat dysimmune neuropathies, such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy,multifocal motor neuropathy, and monoclonal gammopathy with its subtypes. Therefore, a significant percentage of patients require adjunctive immunosuppressive therapies. Considering that even immunosuppressive agents often are ineffective and/or associated with significant toxicities, the need for the development of safe and effective new treatment options is rising. Currently, several monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been tested in open-label small-sized studies or even in single cases so as to establish future directions in the therapy of diseases of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Rituximab, an MAb targeting against the B cell surface membrane protein CD20, is the most widely used and promising MAb for the treatment of dysimmune neuropathies, especially for those in which immunoglobulin M (IgM) autoantibodies are pathogenetically involved. The efficacy of alemtuzumab, bevacizumab, and etanercept to treat various forms of dysimmune neuropathies is currently under investigation. This review looks critically at recent developments in molecularly targeted therapies for dysimmune neuropathies and also highlights areas of future research to pursue. © 2009 The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.