Efficacy of Intravenous Immunoglobulins and Other Immunotherapies in Neurological Disorders and Immunological Mechanisms involved

Glutamatergic pathway abnormalities are increasingly recognised as central to various neuropsychiatric disorders, including autoimmune encephalitis, schizophrenia, and epilepsy, where autoantibodies targeting NMDA, AMPA, and GluR3 receptors are frequently implicated. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), these autoantibodies, along with pro-inflammatory cytokines, are linked to neurocognitive impairments and mood disturbances. Elevated cytokine levels similarly contribute to the pathophysiology of epilepsy and other neurological conditions. Immunotherapies such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) have shown efficacy in mitigating some autoimmune neurological symptoms, though they offer limited benefit in disorders like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and autism. Moreover, disruption of the blood-brain barrier—as observed in diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barré syndrome—permits pathogenic immune elements to infiltrate the central nervous system, exacerbating neuroinflammation. These insights highlight the urgent need for precise immunological screening and personalised treatment strategies to address immune-related neurological dysfunctions.