Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy in children: characterized by subacute, predominantly motor dominant polyeuropathy with a favorable response to the treatment.

OBJECTIVES

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculopathy (CIDP) is less well-studied in children than in adults, probably due to its relative rarity. This study was performed in order to characterize the clinical features of CIDP in children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-eight patients with CIDP who were followed up for more than 1 year were included, and were divided into a child (n = 7, age <16) and an adult group (n = 21, age >or=16). Then, we have assessed the initial progression pattern, clinical course, and serial nerve conduction findings in each patient. Finally, differential features in child and adult group were analyzed.

RESULTS

Distinguishing features in the child group include subacute progression within less than 2 months, predominant motor system involvement in lower extremities, and marked improvement in response to immune modulating therapy. Our study also suggested that serial nerve conduction study may be useful in assessing the effectiveness of the treatment in children.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that children with CIDP have some distinguishing features from adults in terms of clinical course and response to treatment.