--have been developed for blood cancers, which in many cases are the result of the immune/immunoglobulin system gone haywire and over producing rogue antiboides, and yes, they have been tried, in differeing dosages, for other atuoimmune problems as well. There are some well-documented side effects, but the decision whether or not to try them is very individual to the case.

If you are going to a teaching hospital, it might be a good idea to see a nuero as well as a rheumie, but not just any one; it shuld be a neuro who specializes in neuromuscular disorders and/or neuropathy. (Too many of them emphasize the central nervous system--strokes, MS, seizures--and may be unfamiliar with autoimmune issues and such.)

It soes sound as if that original neurologist at least has a clue--those anti-neuronal antibody tests are not standard procedure from most neuros (they are rather specialized).