Postural tremor and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) typically presents with a combination of sensory and motor impairments. Tremor is recognized as a common and debilitating feature in CIDP, although the underlying mechanisms are unclear.

Clinical tremor severity and disability scores were collected prospectively in 25 CIDP patients and compared with 22 neuromuscular controls.

Postural and kinetic tremor were significantly more frequent in CIDP patients (80%) than in neuromuscular controls (35%; P < 0.005). Tremor severity and tremor-related disability were also significantly greater in CIDP patients than in controls. Accelerometry data confirmed the presence of a 5.5 Hz postural tremor and a 5 Hz kinetic tremor.

Tremor appears to be a common clinical feature of CIDP that results in significant disability. Sensory and motor impairment may be associated with development of tremor in CIDP. Muscle Nerve 55: 338-343, 2017.