Clinical electrophysiological and pathological study on chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuopathy

Objective In the present studies, clinical electrophysiological and pathological features of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) were investigated in detail.Methods Electrophysiological studies were performed on 16 patients with CIDP by using Counterpoint MKⅡEMG machine. The items included motor conduction velocity (MCV), sensory conduction velocity (SCV), F reflex. All patients underwent sural nerve biopsy at the midcalf. Standard techniques were used to evaluate the evaluated the specimens by light and electron microscopy.Results Eelectrophysiological results showed the evidence of demyelination, including motor nerve conduction block (CB), temporal dispersion (TD), abnormal F waves, prolonged distal latencies and conduction slowing. Both CB and TD could be considered as major features. Biopsy detection of patients with CIDP was characterized by active demyelination, Schwann cell degeneration,sparse mononuclear cell infiltrates together with remyelinating fibers and “onion bulb” formations. Axonal changes with segmental demyelination could be found sometimes. Conclusion Demyelination was main characteristic changes of the peripheral nerves in CIDP, the strict diagnostic criteria should be applied. Degeneration of Schwann cells, which may happen before demyelination and axonal changes at times, may be another feature of CIDP.