Clinical characteristics of chronic inflammatory demyelinatingpolyradiculoneuropathy in diabetes patients

Background & Objective: Co-exiting of CIDP and diabetes mellitus had been reported. Idiopathic CIDP(I-CIDP) is a treatable disease and had favorable response to immunosuppressive therapies but there is no established data for CIDP in diabetic patients (DM-CIDP). This study aims to determine clinical characteristics, phenotypes, electrophysiological tests and treatment response of CIDP in diabetic patients; and to determine the response to immunosuppressive therapy in DM-CIDP and I-CIDP. Methods: The study was a retrospective chart review of Prasat Neurological Institute patients with diagnosis of CIDP between January 1st, 2008 and December 31th, 2015. Results: Sixty four CIDP patients were identified, 12 were DM-CIDP and 52 were I-CIDP. Clinical characteristics, phenotypes, disease duration and disease severity in DM-CIPD were not different from I-CIDP. Demyelinating changes in nerve conduction studies were not different in the two entities but axonal features were more predominant in DM-CIDP. DM-CIDP also responded to immunosuppressive treatment, with modified Ranking Scale decreased after treatment as in I-CIDP. There was no difference in treatment response in DM-CIDP and I-CIDP. Conclusion: Clinical characteristics, phenotypes, disease severity and treatment response to immunosuppressive treatment in DM-CIPD were not different from I-CIDP. Demyelinating features in nerve conduction studies were not different in the two entities but axonal features were more predominant in DM-CIDP.