Peripheral neuropathy in macroglobulinemia: incidence and antigen-specificity of M proteins

Neurology. 1987 Sep;37(9):1506-14. doi: 10.1212/wnl.37.9.1506.

Abstract

Peripheral neuropathy was found in 12 (46%) of 26 patients with macroglobulinemia. The neuropathy was subclinical in two. Anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) activity was found in six (50%) patients with neuropathy. Sural nerve biopsies showed demyelination and IgM deposits on the myelin sheath. In one patient who had no anti-MAG activity, the serum IgM bound to peripheral myelin by indirect immunofluorescence and to several protein bands in peripheral nerve and other tissues by immunoblot. In the other five patients with neuropathy, we found no binding of M proteins to nerve components, but in three patients there were endoneurial IgM deposits in nerve biopsy. Peripheral neuropathy may be related to the antigen-specificity of M proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / metabolism*
  • Immunoglobulins*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myelin Proteins / immunology*
  • Myelin Proteins / metabolism
  • Myelin Sheath / metabolism
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / etiology*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / immunology
  • Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / complications*
  • Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / immunology

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Immunoglobulins
  • M-proteins (Myeloma)
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein