Preventive and therapeutic effects of the selective Rho-kinase inhibitor fasudil on experimental autoimmune neuritis.

We studied the effects of fasudil, a selective Rho-kinase inhibitor, on experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN). Continuous parenteral administration of fasudil prevented the development of EAN induced by P0 peptide 180-199 in Lewis rats while it also reduced EAN severity when administered after disease onset. Immunohistochemical examination disclosed a marked decrease in the amount of inflammatory cell infiltration and attenuation of demyelination and axonal degeneration.

A distinct subgroup of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy with CNS demyelination and a favorable response to immunotherapy.

To explore subclinical central nervous system (CNS) involvement in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), we recorded somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) using transcranial magnetic stimulation, to measure central sensory conduction time (CSCT) and central motor conduction time (CMCT) and examined brain and spinal cord MRI in patients with probable CIDP based on the American Academy of Neurology AIDS Task Force criteria. Eighteen patients with probable CIDP (12 males and 6 females; mean age at examination+/-SD, 45.8+/-17.