Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is a rare condition in children. In this article, we report our experience in the management of 10 cases of childhood chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy in a single center, in the era of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), genetic microarray, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy disease activity status. Robust neurophysiologic abnormalities were present in all cases and both MRI and lumbar puncture were useful adjuncts in diagnosis. Genetic microarray is a simple technique useful in excluding the most common hereditary demyelinating neuropathy. Intravenous immunoglobulin was an effective first-line therapy in most cases, with refractory cases responding to corticosteroids and rituximab. We found the chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy disease activity status useful for assessing outcome at final follow-up, whereas the modified Rankin score was better for assessing peak motor disability.
Reported are five children with subacute demyelinating polyneuropathy. All patients had a monophasic disease, progressing over 4 to 8 weeks and characterized by predominantly motor features, areflexia, minimal or no cranial nerve abnormalities, no autonomic or respiratory involvement, elevated CSF protein, electrophysiologic evidence of demyelination, and good response to corticosteroids. A benign course with full recovery was the rule.
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