Abstract
Background
Patients with painful sensory neuropathy associated with Sjögren's syndrome-associated
neuropathy often show severe neuropathic pain which is not relieved by conventional
treatments.
Objective
To evaluate the effect of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy in the treatment
of neuropathic pain associated with Sjögren's syndrome.
Patients and methods
We examined 5 patients affected by painful sensory neuropathy associated with Sjögren's
syndrome. All patients were treated with IVIg (0.4 g/kg/day for 5 days) and pain rating
was assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Results
All five patients showed a remarkable improvement in neuropathic pain following IVIg
therapy. Pain, assessed by the determination of mean VAS score, was reduced by 73.4%
from days 2–14 following treatment. The observed clinical improvement persisted for
2 to 6 months. One patient, examined by quantitative sensory testing (QST), showed
an improvement of superficial sensory deficit accompanied by pain relief.
Conclusion
IVIg might be an effective treatment for pain in Sjögren's syndrome-associated neuropathy.
Further studies should be done in a controlled, blind study.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 27, 2009
Accepted:
December 15,
2008
Received:
October 21,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
