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
em 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.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Síndrome de Churg-Strauss
/
Granulomatose com Poliangiite
/
Doenças do Sistema Nervoso Periférico
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mod Rheumatol
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Japão