Childhood chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy: combined analysis of a large cohort and eleven published series.

The clinical presentation, disease course, response to treatment, and long-term outcome of thirty childhood chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) patients are presented representing the largest cohort reported to date. Most children (60%) presented with chronic (>8-weeks) symptom-onset while a smaller proportion showed sub-acute (4-8 weeks) or acute (''GBS-like''; <4 weeks) onset of disease. No gender predilection was observed. The majority of patients had a relapsing (70%) versus a monophasic (30%) temporal profile. Most received initial IVIG monotherapy; 80% showing a good response. Long-term follow-up (mean=3.8 years) was available for 23 patients; 45% were off all immunomodulatory medications, demonstrating no detectable (55%) or minimal (43%) clinical deficits. Our data were compared with 11 previously published childhood CIDP series providing a comprehensive review of 143 childhood CIDP cases. The combined initial or first-line treatment response across all studies was favourable for IVIG (79% patients) and corticosteroids (84% patients). Response to first-line plasma exchange was poor (only 14% patients improved) although it may offer some transient or partial benefit as an adjuvant or temporary therapy for selected patients. The combined long-term outcome of our cohort and the literature reveals a favourable prognosis for most patients. The combined modified Rankin scale decreased from 3.7 (at presentation) to 0.7 (at last follow-up). This review provides important data pertaining to clinical course, treatment response and long-term outcome of this relatively uncommon paediatric autoimmune disease.