Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Sep;30(3):e70059.
doi: 10.1111/jns.70059.

Rasch-Built Overall Disability Scale for IgM-Associated Polyneuropathy With and Without Anti-MAG Antibodies: IgM-RODS

Tatiana Hamadeh  1 , Johannes P M van de Mortel  2 , Janneke G J Hoeijmakers  1 , David R Cornblath  3 , Alexander F J E Vrancken  2 , Catharina G Faber  1 , Nicolette C Notermans  2 , Perry T C van Doormaal  2   4 , Ingemar S J Merkies  1   5 ; IMAGiNe Consortium
Collaborators, Affiliations

Rasch-Built Overall Disability Scale for IgM-Associated Polyneuropathy With and Without Anti-MAG Antibodies: IgM-RODS

Tatiana Hamadeh et al. J Peripher Nerv Syst. 2025 Sep.

Abstract

Background and aim: IgM monoclonal gammopathy-associated polyneuropathy with(out) anti-myelin associated glycoprotein (±anti-MAG) is a rare immune-mediated disease that may cause severe limitations in daily activities and quality of life. The absence of a systematic comparison between patients with/without anti-MAG IgM polyneuropathy, no disease-specific functional metric, and lack of international consensus regarding assessment and treatment of these patients are factors obstructing future clinical trials. Therefore, it was decided to develop an interval Rasch-built activity/participation scale specifically for IgM polyneuropathy ±anti-MAG (IgM-RODS) and examine its clinimetric properties.

Methods: A pre-phase IgM-RODS questionnaire containing 146 activity/participation items, based on the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, was completed by participants (≥ 18 years) of the IMAGiNe observational registry that fulfilled international criteria for IgM-polyneuropathy ±anti-MAG. Data was subjected to Rasch analyses, and reliability/validity studies were performed as well.

Results: The pre-RODS data of 259 subjects (originating from 8 different countries) underwent quality assessment, and 244 remaining records were submitted to the Rasch model, evidencing the model's expectations. Based on requirements like exceeding fit residuals, misfit statistics, item bias, local dependency, and less face validity, we systematically removed items until the final 36-item IgM-RODS fulfilled all Rasch requirements and showed acceptable test-retest reliability, cross-cultural, construct and discriminant validity, and unidimensionality. Compared to the Inflammatory-RODS, the IgM-RODS showed lower standard errors across the metric, indicating greater sensitivity.

Interpretation: The 36-item IgM-RODS is a disease-specific interval measure suitable for detecting functional deficits in patients with IgM-polyneuropathy ±anti-MAG. Future studies are needed to determine its responsiveness.

Keywords: IgM RODS; IgM polyneuropathy; function Rasch‐built metric.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. A. J. Steck, “Anti‐MAG Neuropathy: From Biology to Clinical Management,” Journal of Neuroimmunology 361 (2021): 577725, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577725.
    1. B. Bardel, V. Molinier‐Frenkel, F. Le Bras, et al., “Revisiting the Spectrum of IgM‐Related Neuropathies in a Large Cohort of IgM Monoclonal Gammopathy,” Journal of Neurology 269, no. 9 (2022): 4955–4960, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415‐022‐11139‐2.
    1. M. Campagnolo, M. Ruiz, Y. M. Falzone, et al., “Limitations in Daily Activities and General Perception of Quality of Life: Long Term Follow‐Up in Patients With Anti‐Myelin‐Glycoprotein Antibody Polyneuropathy,” Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System 24, no. 3 (2019): 276–282, https://doi.org/10.1111/jns.12342.
    1. R. A. Kyle and P. J. Dyck, “Neuropathy Associated With the Monoclonal Gammopathies,” in Peripheral Neuropathy, ed. P. J. Dyck and P. K. Thomas (Elsevier Saunders, 2005), 2255–2276.
    1. K. B. Yeung, P. K. Thomas, R. H. King, et al., “The Clinical Spectrum of Peripheral Neuropathies Associated With Benign Monoclonal IgM, IgG and IgA Paraproteinaemia. Comparative Clinical, Immunological and Nerve Biopsy Findings,” Journal of Neurology 238, no. 7 (1991): 383–391, https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00319857.

LinkOut - more resources