Age, demyelinating changes, and presence of myelin-associated glycoprotein antibodies affect prognosis.
According to retrospective studies, about 50% of patients with immunoglobulin M monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (IgM MGUS) have peripheral polyneuropathy. About half of these patients with neuropathy have a distinctive demyelinating neuropathy caused by the IgM monoclonal protein, which possesses specific antibody activity against myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG). In the other half, the neuropathy is somewhat similar clinically to anti-MAG neuropathy, but generally does not have such well-defined or restricted antinerve antibody activity. Now, researchers have conducted the first large prospective study to obtain better prognostic data for patients with IgM neuropathy. They followed 140 patients with IgM neuropathy fo…