To identify a pattern of cytokine/chemokine expression that can distinguish chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) from other neuropathies and healthy control. 

Several proposed diagnostic criteria for CIDP exist, but it remains a diagnostic challenge in some cases. Various changes in cytokine/chemokine expressions have been described in CIDP patients. Furthermore, there has been a report of unique patterns of cytokine expressions in pork abattoir workers with a progressive inflammatory neuropathy. We were interested to determine if a unique pattern of cytokines/chemokines can also be seen in CIDP patients, using a similar approach.

The Luminex platform was used to test 61 different cytokines/chemokines, comparing patients with CIDP, diabetic neuropathy, idiopathic neuropathy, other autoimmune neuropathies (OAN), and healthy controls. General Linear Model (GLM) analysis was performed to assess the relationship of diagnosis, sex and age to levels of individual immune molecules, along with exploratory analyses (one-way ANOVA/t-tests).

Interleukin-1 β (IL-1β) was significantly reduced in the CIDP group when compared to healthy controls and the OAN group. IL-4, IL-13, Chemokine C-C ligand7, CXCL1, TGF-α, CSF3, EGF, BDNF, and VCAM1 levels in CIDP were reduced compared to healthy controls but were not significantly different compared to the OAN group. Beta-nerve growth factor (βNGF) was also reduced in the CIDP group compared to the healthy control and OAN group during data exploration, however, this difference was not supported by the multivariable analyses.

Our finding of reduced IL-1β level in CIDP patients is consistent with another study’s finding of reduction in IL-1β-producing T-cells in CIDP patients. However, increased serum IL-1β levels in CIDP patients have been reported as well. The utility of IL-1β level alone in CIDP patients is unclear. Additional multivariable comparison along with topological analysis of our data is needed to determine if there is a pattern of cytokine/chemokine expression unique to CIDP patients.