IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE TREATMENT IN MULTIFOCAL MOTOR NEUROPATHY

We report the results of immunosuppressive treatments of 13 patients with multifocal motor neuropathy and elevated titers of serum antibodies to the GM1 ganglioside. All patients failed to respond to oral prednisone. There was no clinical response in 4 patients treated with plasma exchange. Nine patients received cyclophosphamide, with clinical improvement and fall in antibody titers in 8. In 3 patients, cyclophosphamide was discontinued with ensuing clinical relapse and rise in the titers of serum anti-GM1 antibodies. These patients provide further evidence for the efficacy of cyclophosphamide therapy in patients with multifocal motor neuropathy.