C hronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING POLYNEUROPATHY Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a sporadic acquired disorder which may mimic an inherited neuropathy in childhood. In fact, the commonest chronic neuropathy seen in children is a hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN) type I. Evidence of familial involvement is perhaps the single most important characteristic in distinguishing hereditary from acquired disorders in children. It is important to recognize the acquired CIDP since it is potentially a treatable disease …

…effective in the management of CIDP. Clinical improvement was often dramatic and there were no reported major adverse reactions to the infusions. Finally, the prognosis of CIDP is worse than GBS, but still appears to be somehow favorable in childhood. In one series, ten patients presented in childhood, eight were followed for an average of 10 years, and 7 had no disability, one case had minor disability only. Three of these cases experienced relapses in adult life.