Brain Disorders & Therapy

Abstract

Childhood Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy – A Report of Two Cases

Shobhana Sivathanu and Sowmya Sampath

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an autoimmune disorder characterised by demyelination of nerve roots and nerves. CIDP is less common in children but it has a favourable outcome as compared to adults. The course may be monophasic and progressive or characterised by recurrent relapses. The characteristic clinical presentation is with both proximal and distal muscle weakness with areflexia. Steroids, immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis are the mainstay of treatment. Of all these modalities, steroids are more likely to induce long lasting remission. In this article, we are reporting two children with CIDP – one with the monophasic and the other with the relapsing course, with a view to highlight the differences in presentation and the fact that it remains an under diagnosed condition due to its protean manifestations.