title: Nerve Ultrasound and Electrophysiology for Therapy Monitoring in Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated prospectively nerve ultrasound and electrophysiology as monitoring methods of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Overall 15 healthy subjects and 11 CIDP patients undergoing IVIG therapy were recruited in the study. All patients underwent clinical, ultrasound, and electrophysiological evaluation at the time point of first onset of symptoms (<6 weeks of symptoms) and 4, 8, and 12 months after onset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intranerve cross-sectional area (CSA) variability of each nerve, but not the CSA alone, correlated with the MRC Scale score during 12-month follow-up. On the other hand, none of the electrophysiological parameters correlated with the MRC Scale Score in each of the peripheral nerves. Interestingly, in ¾ of the CIDP patients, the resolution of the conduction block correlated with the improvement in the MRC Sum score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nerve ultrasound and in particular the intranerve CSA variability seems to be a useful method in monitoring CIDP patients. Although the sample size is small, the intranerve CSA variability seems to be more promising than neurophysiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ruhr University, St. Josef-Hospital, Gudrunstr, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kerasnoudis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ruhr University, St. Josef-Hospital, Gudrunstr, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Kalliopi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pitarokoili
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ruhr University, St. Josef-Hospital, Gudrunstr, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ruhr University, St. Josef-Hospital, Gudrunstr, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Min-Suk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020277:Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
keywords: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy; cross-sectional area; electrophysiology; intranerve cross-sectional area variability; nerve ultrasound