Neuropathy and IgM M-proteins: prognostic value of antibodies to MAG, SGPG, and sulfatide.

Background: In polyneuropathy associated with immunoglobulin M (IgM) monoclonal gammopathy, antibodies to myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), sulfoglucuronyl paragloboside (SGPG), and sulfatide have been associated with specific clinical and electrophysiologic features. However, it is not known whether the results of antibody tests provide additional information for the individual patient (and the neurologist) in terms of future neurologic deficit or outcome.

Objective: To study the independent contribution of potential prognostic factors to the prediction of outcome of neuropathy associated with IgM monoclonal gammopathy.

Sural nerve T-cell receptor Vbeta gene utilization in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and vasculitic neuropathy.

Objective: To investigate the utilization of T-cell receptor (TCR) variable (V) regions in infiltrates of sural nerve biopsies of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and vasculitic neuropathy.

Background: The presence of infiltrating T lymphocytes in sural nerve biopsies may suggest a T cell-mediated immune mechanism in the pathogenesis of CIDP and vasculitic neuropathy.

Patients And Methods: The utilization of TCR Vbeta regions in sural nerves of 13 patients with CIDP and five patients with vasculitic neuropathy was determined by immunohistochemistry, reverse-transcription PCR, and nucleotide sequence analysis.