Contrasting effects of IFNbeta and IVIG in children with central and peripheral demyelination

Reported are three children with MS who responded dramatically to interferon-beta (IFNbeta) therapy. While on immunomodulatory therapy, they developed chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) that responded to IV immunoglobulin (IVIG) administration. These cases emphasize two interesting observations: 1) IFNbeta treatment did not prevent development of CIDP; 2) CIDP in the context of MS responded to IVIG, even though IVIG had no therapeutic effect on the central demyelinating disease.