Monoclonal gammopathy of undeterminated significance and endoneurial IgG deposition

Abstract

Background:

Monoclonal gammopathy of undeterminated significance is the most common form of plasma cell dyscrasia, usually considered as benign. In rare cases it may have a malignant course, sometimes limited to an organ such as peripheral nerves.

Methods:

We describe clinical, electrophysiological and pathological findings in a patient presenting a immunoglobulin G (IgG) paraproteinemic polyneuropathy clinically mimicking a chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

Results:

Immuno-electron microscopy (immune-EM) demonstrated that the widenings of the myelin lamellae resulted from the infiltration of IgG between a significant number of myelin lamellae (with absence of inflammatory cells in the epineurium, endoneurium, and perineurium, and the lack signs of vasculitis). This patient was finally treated successfully with lenalidomide then mycophenolate mofetil.

Conclusions:

In polyneuropathies associated to a monoclonal gammopathy, a nerve biopsy may clinch the diagnosis. Immuno-EM may be required to determine the role of the pathological immunoglobulin in the destruction of the peripheral nerve parenchyma. Diagnosis of such a direct involvement of peripheral nerve can endorse more aggressive treatment of real efficiency.

1. Introduction

Monoclonal gammopathies (MG) are caused by a proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells or B lymphocytes: it is characterized by the proliferation and deposition of M proteins (or paraproteins) which are formed by a single heavy chain (M, G, or A) and a light chain (kappa or lambda).^[1] Monoclonal gammopathy of undeterminated significance (MGUS) is the most common form of plasma cell dyscrasia (immunoglobulin G [IgG] MGUS accounting for up to 61% of the cases).^[2] Its prevalence is 3.5% in the general adult population >50 years; its incidence increases with age (being >5% in patients aged >70 years).^[3] MGUS is defined by the presence of a serum monoclonal component concentration ≤3 g/dL (0.6 g/dL > N > 2.5 g/dL), bone marrow plasma cell counts <10%, and the absence of signs/symptoms related to multiple myeloma (MM) or other lymphoproliferative disorders (whereas MGUS has a rate of malignant progression of approximately 1% per year); for IgG and IgA MGUS, Bence-Jones proteinuria has to be ≤1 g/24 h (normal value of proteinuria <0.15 g/24 h).^[4–6]

We know that 5% to 10% of patients with otherwise unexplained polyneuropathy have an MG (mostly an IgM MG). Approximately 40% to 70% of these patients have IgM MG and antibodies against myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG).^[7] Neuropathy related to IgA or IgG MG are less common.^[8] We report a case of paraproteinemic polyneuropathy characterized by unusual myelin lesions directly linked to IgG MGUS. On electron microscopy, the features were identical to those commonly described in IgM neuropathies with anti-MAG activity.

2. Case report

A 51-year-old patient (with a medical history of acute coronary syndrome and chronic tobacco smoking) complained of paresthesia of both hands for 18 months. Because entrapment of the ulnar nerve at elbow was initially suspected, a surgical treatment was proposed but gave no improvement. One year later, he experienced some falls as well as difficulties in writing. Six months later, on clinical examination we observed a mild distal motor deficit of the lower limbs (flexion and extension of feet and toes were weak) without amyotrophia. Deep tendon reflexes were absent at ankles. No pyramidal sign (as well as no sphincter disturbance) was found. There was a distal hypoesthesia of the lower limbs (limited to the feet) without gait disturbance (Overall Neuropathy Limitations Scale [ONLS] was 3/12).

The electrophysiological study showed a severe primary demyelinating sensorimotor polyneuropathy, with no sensory nerve action potential in the 4 limbs and no compound muscle action potential in the lower limbs. In the upper limbs, we found severe slowing of the motor nerve conduction velocities with distal latencies and a conduction block on the left median nerve (wrist-elbow) (Table 1). Laboratory tests showed serum IgG-kappa monoclonal gammopathy with no plasma cell expansion on bone marrow aspiration. The kappa/lambda ratio was >5 (0.26 < N < 1.65). No cryoglobulinemia and no anti-MAG or anti-glycolipid antibodies were detected. Laboratory examination of endocrine function was normal. Cerebrospinal fluid protein was slightly elevated to 70 mg/dL (N < 45 mg/dL) with no leucocytes.

Table 1.

Electrophysiological study of motor and sensory nerves.

At that time, we diagnosed a mild form of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) associated with MGUS, and decided to treat him with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg; 0.4 g/kg/day for 5 days, every month). During the next months, despite several courses of IgIV we observed a worsening of the clinical picture. The patient finally presented an acute worsening leading to severe tetraparesis (with diaphragmatic palsy) needing intensive care (ONLS was 10/12). After having added oral corticosteroids (1 mg/kg/d) and one course of plasma exchanges, his motor strength progressively improved. We then continued corticosteroids and monthly IVIg. We introduced azathioprine (1 year), and then cyclophosphamide (6 months) as a steroid-sparing agent, without success. Four years after the first acute worsening, he again presented with rapidly progressive severe paraparesis (in a context of skin infection). As for the first worsening, the patient improved after we increased the steroid dosage (to 1 mg/kg/d). ONLS was 2/12, but at that time he also became dependant on IgIV: he required 150 g of IVIg every 11 days (Fig. 1).

Figure 1.

Course of the polyneuropathy of the patient: evaluation with total ONLS. ONLS = Overall Neuropathy Limitations Scale.

Because of the atypical clinical course of the CIDP, a sural nerve biopsy was performed. Paraffin sections were examined using standard methods. Another fragment was fixed in buffered glutaraldehyde, embedded in epon, and prepared for light and electron microscopic (EM) examination. A few other fragments were embedded in London Resin White for an immuno-EM study. Tissues were immunostained using rabbit antisera monospecific to human IgA, IgG, IgM, kappa, and lambda light chains. These antibodies were revealed by adding IgG-coated colloidal particles (12 nm in diameter at 1:25 dilution).^[9] No abnormal cells were seen in the endoneurium, epineurium, or perineurium. There was no vasculitis. A significant reduction in the number of myelinated fibers (approximately 50%), mainly large ones, was observed. Approximately all the remaining myelinated fibers were abnormal: most had myelin sheaths that were too thin relative to axonal diameters, indicative of demyelination (Fig. 2). Most of these myelin sheaths examined by EM exhibited severe abnormalities of myelin compaction: there were numerous abnormal regular widenings of the myelin lamellae (WML) which were localized across all sheaths. The WML were regularly spaced (33.9 ± 1.4 nm vs 15.2 ± 1.9 nm for spacing in normal myelin) (Fig. 3). The dense intraperiodic lines appeared to be dissociated. At high magnification these WML appeared to be filled with a grayish granular material which was anti-IgG, anti-kappa light chain positive (Fig. 4). Because of the abnormal compaction of myelin lamellae, mutations of the myelin protein zero (MPZ) gene were systematically excluded by Sanger sequencing analysis.

Figure 2.

Electron micrograph, transverse section. Severe loss of myelinated fibers. Several thin myelin sheaths are surrounded by some proliferations of Schwann cell like “onion bulbs” (arrows) which are in favor of a demyelinating-remyelinating process.

Figure 3.

Electron micrograph, transverse section. At high magnification numerous regular widenings of the myelin lamellae are well seen (arrows). Otherwise, the myelin compaction is normal (n). A = axon, C = collagen, SC = Schwann cell cytoplasm.

Figure 4.

Immunoelectron micrograph, transverse section. Presence of IgG (black granules) at the level of widenings of the myelin lamellae (arrows). C = collagen, n = normally compacted myelin.

Because of the presence of IgG-kappa, we decided to introduce lenalidomide for 1 year (without consequence on IgIV frequency and steroid dependence). Despite stabilization (ONLS was 2/12), we finally switched this treatment to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). During the next months, we observed a sustained clinical improvement (ONLS was 1/12). We were able to decrease the frequency of the courses of IgIV (1 every 4 weeks, and then 1 every 6 weeks) and the steroid dosage, and then to stop both steroids and IgIV. The only current treatment is MMF (Fig. 1).

A relapsing form of inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy induced by intramyelinic deposition of IgG-kappa in a context of IgG MGUS was diagnosed.

3. Discussion

The prevalence of symptomatic neuropathy in patients with MGUS ranges from 1% to 36%, and is higher in MGUS associated with IgM than with IgG or IgA paraproteins.^[10,11] As in our patient, paraproteinemic neuropathy affects men who classically present with a chronic sensorimotor symmetrical neuropathy similar to CIDP.^[11,12] Some authors have described more sensory involvement in paraproteinemic neuropathy than in idiopathic CIDP.

In any case, it may be difficult to confirm the direct implication of MGUS if the patient presents the typical electrophysiological and clinical hallmark of a CIDP (as in our case). The poor response to the conventional treatment of CIDP (such as IVIg, corticosteroids, or therapeutic plasma exchange) may be a “red flag”; in our patient, the therapeutic response to IVIg and corticosteroids was initially positive (but with IVIg and corticosteroids dependence) with a remittent-recurrent course of the disease. On revisiting the evidence in view of the lack of response to treatment, we decided to perform a nerve biopsy which showed unusual myelin lesions directly linked to IgG MGUS.

Immuno-EM demonstrated that the WML resulted from the infiltration of IgG between a significant numbers of myelin lamellae (with the absence of inflammatory cells in the epineurium, endoneurium, and perineurium, and the lack signs of vasculitis). In our experience, endoneurial deposits of immunoglobulins may be observed in any kind of paraproteinemic neuropathy (IgM, IgG, or IgA).^[13,14] As these WML are very small, it is impossible to identify them by light microscopy on sections taken from nerve fragments either embedded in paraffin or in epon. EM examination is often indispensable in the context of a polyneuropathy associated with a monoclonal gammopathy. First, it can reveal various types of lesions directly linked to the monoclonal gammopathy. Second, immuno-EM may characterize specific endoneurial deposits. Immunoglobulin deposits in the interstitial tissue out of Schwann cells have been also detected.^[15] The pathological lesions of our patient can account for the electrophysiological findings of progressive slowing of conduction velocities due to the abnormalities of myelin sheaths.

Although there is a lack of consensus on the treatment of IgG and IgA paraproteinemic neuropathies (only 1 randomized clinical trial showing a modest benefit of therapeutic plasma exchange),^[16] some patients may respond to immunosuppressant or immunomodulatory treatments such as plasma exchanges and cyclophosphamide (combined with prednisolone, IVIg, and corticosteroids).^[17] MGUS is considered as a premalignant disorder: IgG and IgA MGUS may be precursor conditions of MM, whereas light-chain MGUS can be a precursor condition of light-chain MM. Assessment of the risk of progression of patients with asymptomatic MG is based on various factors (including clonal burden, cytogenetic abnormalities, and light-chain production), but plasma cell clones may occasionally be responsible for severe organ damage (such as in the peripheral nerve) through the production of M-protein which deposits in tissues or has autoantibody activity (although the hemopathy may not appear to be biologically malignant).^[18] Such patients have to be considered to have MM requiring therapy similar to patients with symptomatic disease.^[19]

Lenalidomide (and its analog thalidomide) is an immunomodulatory drug widely used in the treatment of MG in cases of refractory MM.^[20] For this reason, we decided to use lenalidomide; however, after many months, we only observed a clinical stabilization, and so tried MMF which induced a dramatic and long-lasting improvement. MMF acts by inhibiting inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase, thereby limiting the proliferation of B and T lymphocytes.^[21] It is approved for clinical use in the prevention of acute allograft rejection following organ transplantation and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, but it has shown efficacy in autoimmune diseases as well. MMF was initially developed as a replacement of azathioprine and (as azathioprine) it may also be an effective therapy for patients with naive or refractory CIDP,^[22] in conjunction with its steroid-sparing action.^[21] Although MMF has antimyeloma activity in vitro,^[23] we are not aware of other cases of improvement of paraproteinemic neuropathy in the medical literature after such a treatment. In our patient, this improvement was thought to be a consequence of the cumulative effect of lenalidomide and MMF.

In polyneuropathies associated with MG (of whatever type), a nerve biopsy may clinch the diagnosis. Immuno-EM may be required to determine the role of the pathological immunoglobulin in the destruction of the peripheral nerve parenchyma. Diagnosis of such a direct involvement of peripheral nerve can endorse more aggressive treatment of real efficiency.