Low-dose mepolizumab is effective as an add-on therapy for treating long-lasting peripheral neuropathy in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
Mod Rheumatol
; 32(2): 387-395, 2022 Feb 28.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34910206
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the effectiveness of low-dose mepolizumab as an add-on therapy for treating peripheral neurological symptoms in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA).METHODS:
We prospectively studied 13 EGPA patients with conventional treatment-resistant peripheral neuropathy. Their symptoms (pain, numbness, and muscle weakness) were assessed on a visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after 12 months of mepolizumab therapy (100 mg every 4 weeks). Peripheral eosinophil levels and several biomarkers including urinary levels of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) were measured before and after therapy.RESULTS:
VAS scores for pain and numbness significantly improved after 12 months of mepolizumab therapy (from 67.0 to 48.0, P = 0.012, and from 67.0 to 51.0, P = 0.017, respectively). However, the VAS score for muscle weakness did not improve (P = 0.36). There were significant correlations between treatment-related changes in urinary EDN levels from baseline to 6 months later and percent changes in the VAS scores of pain and numbness (r = 0.75, P = 0.020; r = 0.88, P = 0.002).CONCLUSIONS:
Treatment-resistant peripheral neuropathy in EGPA was significantly improved by low-dose mepolizumab, and effectiveness was correlated with decreased urinary EDN. Because the possibility of a placebo effect cannot be formally excluded, placebo-controlled studies will be required in the future.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Síndrome de Churg-Strauss
/
Granulomatosis con Poliangitis
/
Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso Periférico
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mod Rheumatol
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Japón