Is there a need for long-term follow-up in chronic idiopathic polyneuropathy?

To evaluate the long-term functional status and well-being in patients with chronic idiopathic polyneuropathy (CIP) in comparison to Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and healthy controls.

Forty-two CIP and 42 GBS-patients were examined at median 5 and 6 years after disease onset and were compared with 50 healthy controls. The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Visual Analogue Scale for pain (VAS), Disability Rating Index (DRI) and Medical Outcome Study 36-item short-form health status scale (SF-36) were used. Variables at onset and symptoms at follow-up were correlated with outcome measurements in GBS.

Patients with CIP and GBS had more pain and disability than healthy controls. Additionally, CIP-patients were more fatigued than healthy controls. Patients with CIP were more fatigued [FSS 4.9 (SD 1.6) vs 3.8 (SD 1.8); P < 0.01] and disabled [DRI 4.1 (SD 2.3) vs 2.5 (SD 2.1); P = 0.05] than those with GBS. Physical functioning on the SF-36 was more impaired in CIP than GBS, compared with healthy controls.

Patients with CIP and GBS seem to develop persistent impairment on long-term functional status and well-being, more clearly in CIP, reflecting the importance of long-term follow-up in further disease management.