Neurologic and hematologic response to fludarabine treatment in IgM MGUS polyneuropathy

Abstract

We studied the efficacy of fludarabine in 16 patients with immunoglobulin M monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance polyneuropathy in a prospective uncontrolled trial. The modified Rankin scale improved in 5/16 patients, all of whom had a demyelinating polyneuropathy. The motor conduction velocity improved by more than 10% in two or more nerves for four of five of these patients. Hematologic response in bone marrow occurred in three of five of these patients, whereas two of five already had small polyclonal B cell populations. There were no serious side effects.