Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy responsive to mycophenolate mofetil therapy.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).

BACKGROUND

Evidence is growing that MMF is effective as an immunomodulatory drug in neuromuscular diseases.

METHODS

A database of 184 patients with CIDP was analysed to obtain clinical, laboratory and electrophysiological information for patients with CIDP treated with MMF.

RESULTS

Eight patients, who met the inclusion criteria, received MMF (mean dose 2 g/day; median duration 15.2 months). The average Neuropathy Impairment Score of the eight patients improved from baseline (72.3+/-35) after initiation of MMF therapy (37.8+/-37; p<0.001). Six of these eight patients were either able to stop concomitant medications (corticosteroid, intravenous immunoglobulin) or reduce their doses and frequency by > or = 50%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our pilot data suggest that MMF appears to be an effective therapy for patients with naive or refractory CIDP, and further controlled studies are warranted for their confirmation.