Challenges in pediatric chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

Outcome measures in pediatric chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy

INTRODUCTION/AIMS

Objective outcome measures in children undergoing treatment for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) are lacking. The aim of the study was to record serial grip strength and motor nerve conduction studies to assess interval change.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of 16 children (8 females and 8 males; median age, 9.7 years; interquartile range, 6-13 years) with CIDP followed at a tertiary children's hospital from 2013 to 2021. Subjects were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Right and left grip strength measurements were obtained at each clinic visit using a handheld dynamometer. Annual right median motor nerve conduction study data were recorded during the study period.

RESULTS

Mean duration of follow-up was 2.9 years. Grip strength (right: 0.19 kg/month, p < 0.001; left 0.23 kg/month, p < 0.001) and median F-wave latencies (-0.23/month, p = 0.015) showed significant improvement over time. Akaike information criterion showed time + IVIG frequency <21 days as best fit for grip strength and distal compound muscle action potential amplitude.

DISCUSSION

Our study results indicate serial grip strength measurements are a feasible and objective way to assess motor strength improvement in children with CIDP receiving immunotherapy.

[Modern aspects of diagnosis and treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy in children]

OBJECTIVE

Analysis of demographic, clinical, laboratory, electrophysiological and neuroimaging data and pathogenetic therapy of pediatric patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients (n=30) were observed in a separate structural unit of the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital of the Russian National Research Medical University named after. N.I. Pirogova Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation in the period from 2006 to 2023. The examination was carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Joint Task Force of the European Federation of Neurological Societies and the Peripheral Nerve Society on the Management of CIDP (2021). All patients received immunotherapy, including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) (n=1), IVIG and glucocorticosteroids (GCS) (n=17, 56.7%), IVIG+GCS+plasmapheresis (n=12, 40.0%). Alternative therapy included cyclophosphamide (n=1), cyclophosphamide followed by mycophenolate mofetil (n=1), rituximab (n=2, 6.6%), azathioprine (n=3), mycophenolate mofetil (n=2, 6.6%).

RESULTS

In all patients, there was a significant difference between scores on the MRCss and INCAT functional scales before and after treatment. At the moment, 11/30 (36.6%) patients are in clinical remission and are not receiving pathogenetic therapy. The median duration of remission is 48 months (30-84). The longest remission (84 months) was observed in a patient with the onset of CIDP at the age of 1 year 7 months.

CONCLUSION

Early diagnosis of CIDP is important, since the disease is potentially curable; early administration of pathogenetic therapy provides a long-term favorable prognosis.

Pediatric-Onset Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy: A Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the clinical features, demographic features, and treatment modalities of pediatric-onset chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in Turkey.

METHODS

The clinical data of patients between January 2010 and December 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were evaluated according to the Joint Task Force of the European Federation of Neurological Societies and the Peripheral Nerve Society Guideline on the management of CIDP (2021). In addition, patients with typical CIDP were divided into two groups according to the first-line treatment modalities (group 1: IVIg only, group 2: IVIg + steroid). The patients were further divided into two separate groups based on their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 43 patients, 22 (51.2%) males and 21 (48.8%) females, were included in the study. There was a significant difference between pretreatment and post-treatment modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores (P < 0.05) of all patients. First-line treatments include intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) (n = 19, 44.2%), IVIg + steroids (n = 20, 46.5%), steroids (n = 1, 2.3%), IVIg + steroids + plasmapheresis (n = 1, 2.3%), and IVIg + plasmapheresis (n = 1, 2.3%). Alternative agent therapy consisted of azathioprine (n = 5), rituximab (n = 1), and azathioprine + mycophenolate mofetil + methotrexate (n = 1). There was no difference between the pretreatment and post-treatment mRS scores of groups 1 and 2 (P > 0.05); however, a significant decrease was found in the mRS scores of both groups with treatment (P < 0.05). The patients with abnormal MRI had significantly higher pretreatment mRS scores compared with the group with normal MRI (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This multicenter study demonstrated that first-line immunotherapy modalities (IVIg vs IVIg + steroids) had equal efficacy for the treatment of patients with CIDP. We also determined that MRI features might be associated with profound clinical features, but did not affect treatment response.

Severe Locked-In-Like Guillain-Barré's Syndrome: Dilemmas in Diagnosis and Treatment

Guillain-Barré's syndrome in childhood can follow an atypical course, increasing the challenges in diagnosis and decisions regarding immunomodulatory treatment. Here, we report the case of on a 13-year-old boy with acute onset Guillain-Barré's syndrome progressing over 40 days to a very severe, locked-in-like syndrome despite intensive immunomodulatory treatment. After a plateau phase lasting 3 months and characterized by fluctuating signs of ongoing inflammatory disease activity, we were prompted to perform repeated and maintenance immunomodulatory treatment, which resulted in a continuous and nearly complete recovery of function. Atypical features at disease onset, the severe "total" loss of all peripheral and cranial nerve function, and an apparent late response to treatment give rise to reviewing the dilemmas of diagnosis and treatment in such severe and protracted courses of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Genetic neuropathies presenting with CIDP-like features in childhood

Inherited neuropathies are amongst the most common neuromuscular disorders. The distinction from chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) may be challenging, considering its rarity in childhood, that genetic neuropathies may show secondary inflammatory features, and that subacute CIDP presentations may closely mimic the disease course of inherited disorders. The overlap between genetic neuropathies and CIDP is increasingly recognized in adults but rarely reported in children. Here we report 4 children with a neuropathy of subacute onset, initially considered consistent with an immune-mediated neuropathy based on suggestive clinical, laboratory and neurophysiological features. None showed convincing response to intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, leading to re-evaluation and confirmation of a genetic neuropathy in each case (including PMP22, MPZ and SH3TC2 genes). A review of the few Paediatric cases reported in the literature showed similar delays in diagnosis and no significant changes to immunomodulatory treatment. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering an inherited neuropathy in children with a CIDP-like presentation. In addition to an inconclusive response to treatment, subtle details of the family and developmental history may indicate a genetic rather than an acquired background. Correct diagnostic confirmation of a genetic neuropathy in a child is crucial for appropriate management, prognostication and genetic counselling.

[Chronic dysimmune hypertrophic plexopathy as a variant of atypical chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy]

The authors report the clinical case of a 7-year-old child with gradual development in left leg weakness considering by the neurologist as the unknown lesion of the sciatic nerve. According to the results of clinical and instrumental examinations, the diagnosis was established as a focal form of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). The dysimmune cause of the disease was confirmed by MRI of the lumbosacral plexus with contrast enhancement of neural structures and response to therapy with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin in combination with corticosteroids.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: Plasmapheresis or cyclosporine can be good treatment options in refractory cases

Childhood chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a rare condition, and the optimal treatment strategy is not well established, especially in refractory cases. We analyzed the clinical features and treatment outcomes of 14 cases of childhood CIDP with more than 12 months of follow-up. Of the 14 cases, 10 cases were considered refractory to the conventional first-line treatment. In the monophasic group (n = 6), plasmapheresis resulted in a better treatment response than did IVIG. Monophasic refractory cases (n = 4) were especially responsive to plasmapheresis. In the polyphasic group (n = 8), IVIG and plasmapheresis had comparable effects. Among them six polyphasic patients were refractory to the first-line treatment options and received additional immunosuppressants. Four treatment-refractory polyphasic patients received cyclosporine and achieved successful disease control. With regard to the long-term outcomes, six patients showed minimal symptoms and no relapse within 6 months. Our results suggest that early administration of plasmapheresis in a monophasic course and cyclosporine in a polyphasic course may be effective treatment options for refractory childhood CIDP.