Monocentric study of 28 cases of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: first Tunisian study

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a rare affection of the peripheral nervous system. Its diagnostic criteria have evolved since 1975. The aim of our work is to study the epidemiological, clinical, and paraclinical aspects of CIDP.

We conducted a retrospective study of 28 CIDP patients of the neurology department of the military hospital of Tunis between January 2000 and December 2017. All these patients met the European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society(EFNS/PNS)2010 diagnostic criteria for definite CIDP.

The average age was 50 years with a gender ratio of 1.57. We found sensitivomotor symptoms in 66% of patients. Neurological assessment showed a proximal and distal motor weakness in 50% of cases, the involvement of superficial and deep sensory systems in 44% of patients with a generalized areflexia in all patients. Median Inflammatory Neuropthy Cause and Treatment (INCAT) score was 7. Concerning electrophysiology, all our patients met the EFNS/EPS 2010 diagnostic criteria for a definite CIDP. Screening for concurrent pathologies was positive in 11 patients. On the therapeutic side, there was no superiority of intravenous immunoglobin compared with pulsed methylprednisolone. Oral steroids were used as backup in about 50% of patients. There were good outcomes in 72% of patients who improved very well after treatment.

CIDP is a rare and polymorphic disorder with a variety of concurrent pathologies. Our study is the first study in Tunisia and in Maghreb countries which included the most big series of patients. Our results were similar to literature. A multicentral study would be better profitable.