Cytotoxic drugs and interferons for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
Abstract
Background
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy is a disease causing progressive or relapsing and remitting weakness and numbness. It is probably due to an autoimmune inflammatory process. Immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory drugs would be expected to be beneficial.
Objectives
We aimed to review systematically the evidence from randomised trials concerning cytotoxic drugs and interferons for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.
Search methods
We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group trials register (searched December 2001), MEDLINE (searched January 1977 to December 2001), EMBASE (January 1980 to December 2001), CINAHL (searched January 1982 to December 2001) and LILACS (searched January 1982 to December 2001). We contacted the authors of the trials identified and other disease experts seeking other published and unpublished trials.
Selection criteria
We sought randomised and quasi‐randomised trials of all immunosuppressive agents such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, cyclosporin A, mycophenolate mofetil, and rituximab and all immunomodulatory agents such as alpha interferon and beta interferon in participants fulfilling standard diagnostic criteria for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.
Data collection and analysis
Two of us independently selected the trials which met our criteria, judged their methodological quality and extracted the data onto specially designed forms. We wanted to measure the change in disability after one year as our primary outcome measure.
Main results
We found one parallel group open trial of azathioprine for nine months involving 27 participants and another of interferon beta involving 10 participants in a double blind crossover trial with each treatment period lasting 12 weeks. Neither trial provided our primary outcome measure and neither showed a significant beneficial effect on any of the outcome measures selected by the authors or ourselves in the protocol for this review.
Authors' conclusions
The evidence is inadequate to decide whether azathioprine, interferon beta or any other immunosuppressive drug or interferon is beneficial in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.
PICOs
Plain language summary
More trials are needed to show whether cytotoxic drugs and interferons are beneficial in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy is an uncommon disease causing weakness and numbness. It is probably due to inflammation of the nerves. Treatment options include cytotoxic drugs, which kill the cells producing antibodies that might be contributing to the problem. Drugs that regulate the immune system, such as interferons, might also be able to help. However, the review found insufficient evidence from trials to show whether cytotoxic drugs and interferons can help people with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.
