Evaluation of the clinical course of immune-mediated polyneuropathy in cats after treatment with human intravenous immunoglobulins
4 affiliations
- 1Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Neurology Unit, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- 2Neurology Department, Small Animal Clinic Oberhaching, Oberhaching, Germany
- 3AniCura Tierklinik Haar GmbH, Neurology Department, Haar, Germany
- 4Section of Clinical and Comparative Neuropathology, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
Abstract
Objectives:: Immune-mediated polyneuropathy (IMPN) manifests with generalised lower motor neuron (LMN) weakness and a remittent or relapsing clinical course. Evidence-based treatment recommendations for severely or chronically affected cats are limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical course and outcome of cats with IMPN after treatment with human intravenous immunoglobulins (hIVIg).
Methods:: Medical records from two veterinary referral hospitals were reviewed (2018–2025) for cats with IMPN treated with hIVIg. Cats were treated with 1–2 g/kg hIVIg divided over 2–4 days (0.5 g/kg/day). Clinical information, diagnostic findings, treatment details, and short- and long-term follow-up were evaluated retrospectively. Follow-up information was obtained from medical records and owner communication. Minimum follow-up duration was 8 months (range 8–51; median 17). Clinical course (partial and complete recovery, relapses) was compared between cats with acute/recent onset (four cats) or chronic presentation (five cats).
Results:: Of nine cats, eight exhibited clinical improvement after hIVIg administration, achieving ambulatory status (walking >5 steps) within a median of 4 days (range 2–8). One cat failed to respond to hIVIg but improved after subsequent prednisolone therapy. For the overall cohort, the median time to complete recovery was 20 days, while the median time to partial recovery was 14 days. Relapses occurred in four cats, but weakness was less severe, and all cats recovered again. The remaining five cats remained relapse-free.
Conclusions and relevance:: Human IVIg was well tolerated in this small cohort, and rapid clinical improvement was observed in most treated cats. These findings suggest that hIVIg may be considered as a treatment option in selected cats with IMPN, including those with acute and chronic presentations. Larger prospective studies, including comparison with no treatment or corticosteroids, are warranted to further assess its efficacy.
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BibTeX
@article{schmitz2026evaluation,
title = {{Evaluation of the clinical course of immune-mediated polyneuropathy in cats after treatment with human intravenous immunoglobulins}},
author = {Annika Katharina Schmitz and Alexander Paul Sablotni Aguilera and Gesine Buhmann and Jana van Renen and Birgit Parzefall and Kaspar Matiasek and Lara Alexa Matiasek and Andrea Fischer},
journal = {Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1177/1098612x261478277},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612x261478277},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Evaluation of the clinical course of immune-mediated polyneuropathy in cats after treatment with human intravenous immunoglobulins
AU - Annika Katharina Schmitz
AU - Alexander Paul Sablotni Aguilera
AU - Gesine Buhmann
AU - Jana van Renen
AU - Birgit Parzefall
AU - Kaspar Matiasek
AU - Lara Alexa Matiasek
AU - Andrea Fischer
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/03
JO - Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
DO - 10.1177/1098612x261478277
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612x261478277
AB - Objectives:: Immune-mediated polyneuropathy (IMPN) manifests with generalised lower motor neuron (LMN) weakness and a remittent or relapsing clinical course. Evidence-based treatment recommendations for severely or chronically affected cats are limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical course and outcome of cats with IMPN after treatment with human intravenous immunoglobulins (hIVIg). Methods:: Medical records from two veterinary referral hospitals were reviewed (2018–2025) for cats with IMPN treated with hIVIg. Cats were treated with 1–2 g/kg hIVIg divided over 2–4 days (0.5 g/kg/day). Clinical information, diagnostic findings, treatment details, and short- and long-term follow-up were evaluated retrospectively. Follow-up information was obtained from medical records and owner communication. Minimum follow-up duration was 8 months (range 8–51; median 17). Clinical course (partial and complete recovery, relapses) was compared between cats with acute/recent onset (four cats) or chronic presentation (five cats). Results:: Of nine cats, eight exhibited clinical improvement after hIVIg administration, achieving ambulatory status (walking >5 steps) within a median of 4 days (range 2–8). One cat failed to respond to hIVIg but improved after subsequent prednisolone therapy. For the overall cohort, the median time to complete recovery was 20 days, while the median time to partial recovery was 14 days. Relapses occurred in four cats, but weakness was less severe, and all cats recovered again. The remaining five cats remained relapse-free. Conclusions and relevance:: Human IVIg was well tolerated in this small cohort, and rapid clinical improvement was observed in most treated cats. These findings suggest that hIVIg may be considered as a treatment option in selected cats with IMPN, including those with acute and chronic presentations. Larger prospective studies, including comparison with no treatment or corticosteroids, are warranted to further assess its efficacy.
SN - 1098-612X
SN - 1532-2750
ER -