Neuropathy resembling CIDP in patients receiving tumor necrosis factor-α blockers

• Published in: Neurology Vol. 64; no. 8; pp. 1468 - 1470
• Main Authors: RICHEZ, C, BLANCO, P, LAGUENY, A, SCHAEVERBEKE, T, DEHAIS, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 26-04-2005; American Academy of Neurology
• Subjects: Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal - adverse effects; Antirheumatic Agents - adverse effects; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy; Autoantibodies - drug effects; Autoantibodies - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Cranial nerves. Spinal roots. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system. Gustation. Olfaction; Etanercept; Female; G(M1) Ganglioside - immunology; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - adverse effects; Infliximab; Life Sciences; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Muscle Weakness - chemically induced; Muscle Weakness - immunology; Muscle Weakness - physiopathology; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neural Conduction - drug effects; Neural Conduction - immunology; Neurology; Other; Peripheral Nerves - drug effects; Peripheral Nerves - immunology; Peripheral Nerves - physiopathology; Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating - chemically induced; Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating - immunology; Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating - physiopathology; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; Recovery of Function - immunology; Sensation Disorders - chemically induced; Sensation Disorders - immunology; Sensation Disorders - physiopathology; Spondylitis, Ankylosing - drug therapy; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - antagonists & inhibitors; Human; Tumor necrosis factor β; Nervous system diseases; Neuropathy; Tumor necrosis factor α; Cytokine
• ISSN: 0028-3878; 1526-632X
• DOI: 10.1212/01.WNL.0000158681.29117.8B

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TauNuFalpha) blockers are effective in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis but can induce autoimmune disorders including multiple sclerosis. Described are two patients who developed chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy after initiation of anti-TNFalpha treatment.