Remicade & demyelenating polyneuropathy

My husband was recently diagnosed with crohn's and started remicade on April 10th while at the hospital. He's had 2 infusions of remicade and due for his next infusion on May 22nd (next week). However, a week after the first infusion, he developed foot drop in his left foot. We thought it was because he'd been hospitalized for 6 weeks. Anyway, he's been out of the hospital and it still wasn't getting better, so we went and saw a neurologist. She did a nerve conduction study of the nerve his both his legs, and the verdict was that the nerves in both his legs are conducting slowly (not just his left leg). So, her diagnosis right now is demyelinating polyneuropathy, which she says is likely from the remicade, and her recommendation is to stop the remicade, and see if the symptoms go away.

The remicade is the only thing that has helped my husband's crohn's flare - he's on 80 mgs of prednisone, and is still not back to normal. I know that remicade has a known possible side effect of demyelenating disorders of the central nervous system. Well, I'm worried that my husband now has multiple sclerosis. He doesn't have any other symptoms except for the foot drop, and the neurologist has not ordered an MRI or spinal tap. She did the physical examination, and I guess he didn't show any of the typical symptoms of MS.

Here are my questions:
* Anyone else experienced this? Will cessation of remicade result in his myelin sheath being restored and symptoms to go away?
* Can this be a early symptom of MS? What other conditions can do this?
* What tests and questions should we pose to his neurologist next time we meet?

Thanks for your help
Preetha

Preetha,

Welcome to the MS forum.  I am so sorry about your husbands health problems.  You have heard from our most experienced member (Uppitycats).  I don't know too much about Crohn's or remicade.  It sounds like the remicade may have been the culprit.  You have asked some really good questions but I really think these are question for your husband's doctors.  I would contact them right away and pose those very good questions.  I am assuming you have asked these same questions on the Crohn's board.  You are more than welcome here but I think you will find more experience with remicade there.  Please keep us posted as to how he is doing.  I wish you and your husband the best of luck.

Love and prayers,