Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy for Small Fiber Neuropathy

Summary

Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is the most common cause of neuropathic pain in peripheral neuropathies, with a prevalence of at least 53/100.000. Patients with SFN may have excruciating pain and current anti-neuropathic and other pain drugs do not relief pain substantially. Several studies suggested an immunological basis in SFN and case studies have reported efficacy of treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in patients with SFN. It is therefore conceivable that immunological mechanisms play a role in idiopathic SFN (I-SFN). However, to date no randomized controlled study with IVIg in patients with SFN has been performed. The aim of the current study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of IVIg in patients with I-SFN in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of IVIg treatment (4 courses of treatment, 3 weeks apart) compared to placebo on pain alleviation.

Timeline

Start

2016-07

Primary completion

2019-03

Completion

2019-03

Publications

• Geerts M, de Greef BTA, Sopacua M, van Kuijk SMJ, Hoeijmakers JGJ, Faber CG, Merkies ISJ. Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy in Patients With Painful Idiopathic Small Fiber Neuropathy. Neurology. 2021 May 18;96(20):e2534-e2545. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000011919. Epub 2021 Mar 25.
• de Greef BT, Geerts M, Hoeijmakers JG, Faber CG, Merkies IS. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for small fiber neuropathy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2016 Jul 20;17(1):330. doi: 10.1186/s13063-016-1450-x.

Drugs

Indications