title: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy as a possible novel component of autoimmune poly-endocrine-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy.
abstract: We describe two unrelated boys with autoimmune poly-endocrine-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy syndrome (APECED) who, in addition to manifesting the most common symptoms (chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, hypoparathyroidism and Addison's disease), developed progressive muscular weakness in both the proximal and distal limbs, sensory loss and absent tendon reflexes. Electrophysiological studies disclosed a reduction of nerve conduction velocity in both patients that was consistent with the diagnosis of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).This diagnosis was supported by histological demyelination in nerve biopsy specimens with patchy CD4, CD8 and CD68-positive cell infiltration in the first patient and increased protein content in the cerebrospinal fluid in the second patient. Our cases represent the first report of an association between APECED and CIDP, in which peripheral nerve demyelination may represent a novel disease component in APECED. Our findings highlight the need to explore apparently rare manifestations in patients with APECED.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98126 Messina, Italy. marielvale@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valenzise
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meloni
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Betterle
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giometto
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Autunno
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzeo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Luca
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D001706:Biopsy; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000235:genetics; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D016884:Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D020277:Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D000096927:AIRE Protein
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000096927:AIRE Protein