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Journal of Medical Cases

Case Report

Volume 4, Number 8, August 2013, pages 557-559

Anti-Myelin Associated Glycoprotein Polyneuropathy in a Patient With Lymphoma and its Resolution After Chemotherapy

The estimated prevalence of this neuropathy in the population older than 50 years is at least 30 per 100,000 [1, 2]. Lymphoma can affect the peripheral nervous system in 5% of patients [3]. Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is however an uncommon presenting symptom in patients with lymphomas. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is more often associated with PN than other lymphoproliferative disorders [4]. Neuropathy in lymphoma may be due to direct infiltration of nerves, paraneoplastic mechanisms, or related to metabolic and infectious processes. More than 50% of patients with neuropathy-associated IgM monoclonal gammopathy possess antibodies against MAG [5]. Anti-MAG antibody associated PN is however rare in hematological malignancies and presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge [6]. Detection of IgM autoantibody against myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG) suggests active demyelination in peripheral neuropathy. We present a case of anti-MAG antibody associated sensory peripheral neuropathy in a patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma which resolved after chemotherapy.

A 72-year old male was referred to our center with a one year history of progressively worsening tingling, numbness and pain in both lower extremities in an ascending fashion. His past medical history was significant for hypertension, GERD and diverticulitis. Interestingly, he had two older sisters with history of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He initially presented to his primary care physician with 3 months history of numbness in his lower extremities and was managed conservatively without any relief. Four months later, the patient had developed the neuropathy symptoms in both his arms as well. He had lost 25 pounds during this time. He was referred to a local oncologist and underwent a thorough workup including complete blood counts, comprehensive chemistry panel, thyroid functions, serum protein electrophoresis-immunofixation (SPEP-IF), serum vitamin B12 levels and serum folic acid levels revealing normal values except an IgM kappa monoclonal gammopathy. A fat pad biopsy for amyloid was negative. The patient underwent a nerve conduction study consistent with mild sensory and motor polyneuropathy in both upper and lower without evidence of demyelination.

The patient was then seen at our center in light of the IgM monoclonal gammopathy. He was found to have right cervical lymphadenopathy on physical exam. Additional laboratory work-up including cold agglutinins, serum cryoglobulins, serologies for HIV, hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, West Niles virus, Chaga’s disease, and cytomegalovirus was conducted and was unremarkable. Serum zinc and copper levels were also found to be within normal range. A bone marrow biopsy was negative for underlying plasma or B cell disorder. A PET scan demonstrated large intense hypermetabolic soft tissue mass involving the right oropharynx and right tongue base measuring about 2.7 cm (standard uptake value of 13.2) associated with right cervical and submandibular as well as supraclavicular and pretracheal lymph node positivity. Biopsies of the tonsillar mass as well as cervical lymph node excision were performed. The pathology revealed a non-germinal center cell type diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, positive for CD20, CD79a, PAX-5, MUM-1, BCL-6, BCL-2, and CD23 (Fig. 1, 2). The anti-MAG antibody ELISA was abnormal with a value of 167 TU.

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Figure 1. Lymph node biopsy: atypical lymphoid cells.

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Figure 2. Tonsil biopsy (atypical lymphocytes with peripheral nucleoli).

The patient was deemed to have Stage IIA diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and initiated on treatment with R-CHOP chemotherapy with resolution of neuropathy symptoms and PET avid lymphadenopathy after the two cycles of treatment.

Neuropathy associated with anti-MAG antibody is a chronic distal symmetric sensorimotor neuropathy [7]. It has been reported with IgM monoclonal gammopathy and rarely with hematological malignancies. MAG is a schwan cell-based glycoprotein and has been implicated to influence the cytoskeleton integrity of aoxns. The electrophysiological findings in anti-MAG neuropathy indicate a demyelinating neuropathy [7]. It is clinically manifested as sensory ataxia, impaired gait and mild to moderate distal muscle weakness in advanced cases. Sural nerve biopsy typically shows a diminished number of myelinated axons and loss of large myelinating fibers. Nerve conduction studies demonstrate distal demyelination with prolongation of distal motor and sensory latencies.

Diagnosis of anti MAG neuropathy requires a high clinical suspicion based on symptoms, a distal demyelination on nerve conduction studies and a positive anti-MAG antibody titer by ELISA. A recent study in a large number of samples has confirmed that ELISA testing for MAG is more sensitive than Western blotting [8]. Anti-MAG neuropathy remains a therapeutic challenge. It has been treated with immune-modulating therapies that include intravenous immunoglobulin, chlorambucil, and plasma exchange, interferon-alpha with inconsistent or non-beneficial effects in placebo-controlled trials. These treatments have limited long-term efficacy and are associated with significant morbidity [9-11]. Rituximab therapy on the other hand has shown encouraging results in few case reports and clinical trials and may be the treatment of choice at present [12-14].

It is important to differentiate anti-MAG PN from other forms of chronic inflammatory neuropathies and search for underlying etiology. Anti-MAG polyneuropathy has distinctive clinical, electrophysiological, and pathological features that may help distinguish it from chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and other IgM-related neuropathies [15]. Identifying and treating the underlying etiology of symptoms is extremely important. Our Patient presented with symptomatic PN etiology of which was unclear at presentation and he had gradual progression of the symptoms. His PN symptoms resolved with treatment of the underlying lymphoma.

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