To evaluate the CIDP clinical spectrum of patients at a Mexican reference center, electrophysiological characteristics, and functional outcomes

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) represents a rare entity, hard to diagnose, especially in low-income countries because of the insidious onset, uncertain clinical course, and heterogeneous manifestations.

We performed a cross-sectional, ambispective review study of CIDP patients admitted to the La Raza National Medical Center Specialty Hospital from 2010 to 2021. We documented neurological deficits, electrophysiological and laboratory parameters to determine diagnostic characteristics, disease activity, and clinical outcomes following treatment.

We reviewed a total of 124 neuropathy cases; only 12 met the CIDP criteria of the EFNS/PNS, with a mean age of 56 ± 13.2 years, 7 were (58.3%) women. At disease onset, the predominant characteristic (58%) was lower limbs affection with paresis in 7 (58%) patients and distal symmetric paresthesia in 5 (42%). In addition, all patients had classical (sensory-motor) CIDP, 25% had additional autoimmune disease history, and 33.3% had diabetes. The mean time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 11.75 ± 13.71 months, follow-up in years 9.3 ± 3.8. Further, 41.7% had albumin-cytological dissociation in cerebrospinal fluid at the time of diagnosis. Regarding treatment, 6 (50%) used prednisone at some point, and 91.7% were under IV Immunoglobulin management. Concerning functional status, the patient's last recorded Rankin disability scores were 50% mild, 25% moderate, and 25% severe. Also, 66.7% had an independent walk, and 33.3% had manual skills mild weakness

Clinical, demographic, and outcomes characteristics of our CIDP cohort are comparable to those in other published series. However, the long-term result of this heterogeneous disease needs further investigation, and plenty of work is needed to improve timely diagnosis levels.