
Background: Immune-mediated neuropathies represent a significant portion of cases encountered by neurologists. The scope of responsive neuropathies, the extent of response to plasmapheresis and its predictors varies widely. Objective: To recognize predictors of response to plasmapheresis in autoimmune-neuropathies. Patients and Methods: Seventy-six subjects; 61 Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) patients and 15 chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) patients were recruited and evaluated using Medical Research Council sum score (MRCSS) and Modified Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS); on admission, 2 weeks and 3 months after six session of plasmapheresis. Different clinical, laboratory and neurophysiological variables were evaluated as possible predictors of response. Results: Of 61GBS patients, after 3 months, 41% (n=25) of them were poor-responders to plasmapheresis (<50% increase in MRCSS), and 59% (n=36) were good-responders. Older age, higher MRCSS on admission, lower NDS on admission, cyto-albuminous dissociation, electro-physiological evidence of axonal nerve affection and low NLR were predictors for poor response to plasmapheresis in GBS patients. Of 15 CIDP patients, after 3 months, 53.3% (n=8) of them were poor-responders to plasmapheresis (< 30% increase in MRCSS), and 46.7% (n=7) were good-responders. Higher MRCSS on admission, low CMAP amplitude, low MCV and long time between onset of the health problem and start of plasmapheresis were predictors for poor response to plasmapheresis in CIDP patients. Conclusion: Response to plasmapheresis in autoimmune neuropathies is variables and depends on several factors that can predict it.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
