Fisher syndrome and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis

Abstract

This review described current status and perspectives of treatment for immune-mediated neuropathies, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), multifocal motor neuropathy, and demyelinating neuropathy with anti-MAG neuropathy. corticosteroids, immunoglobulin therapy, and plasmapheresis are conventional treatments for these neuropathies, but the responsiveness to the treatments significantly differ among the disorders. Promising new treatment options include anti-complement monoclonal antibody (Eculizumab, anti-C5) for Guillain-Barre syndrome, and rituximab (anti-CD20) for anti-MAG neuropathy. For CIDP, different treatments would be required according to the clinical subtypes; typical CIDP and asymmetric variabt). For multifocal neuropathy, maintainance treatment with immunoglobulin is necessary.