title: Clinical spectrum of chronic acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies.
abstract: A number of presentations of chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy have been identified, each distinguished by its phenotypic pattern. In addition to classic chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), which is characterized clinically by symmetric proximal and distal weakness and sensory loss, several regional variants can be recognized: multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN: asymmetric and pure motor), multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and motor (MADSAM) neuropathy (asymmetric, sensory, and motor), and distal acquired demyelinating symmetric (DADS) neuropathy (symmetric, distal, sensory, and motor). There are also temporal, pathological, and disease-associated variants. This review describes a clinical scheme for approaching the chronic acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies that leads to a rational use of supportive laboratory studies and treatment options. In addition, we propose new diagnostic criteria for CIDP that more accurately reflect current clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wilford Hall Medical Center, 2200 Bergquist Drive, Suite 1 (MMCN), San Antonio, Texas 78236-5300, USA. sapers@pol.net
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Saperstein
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Barohn
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D020277:Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy