Clinical characteristics, and impairment and disability scale scores for different CIDP Disease Activity Status classes.

INTRODUCTION: Selecting proper outcome measures is important for clinical practice and clinical studies assessing treatable neuropathies, such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).

OBJECTIVES: To explore clinical characteristics and impairment and disability scores in CIDP patients, and assess their relationship to different CIDP Disease Activity Status (CDAS) classes.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of CIDP patients attending the neuromuscular clinic between January 2014 and December 2015, and explored clinical characteristics, and various impairment and disability scores for different CDAS classes.

RESULTS: The total cohort included 69 CIDP patients. A higher CDAS class was correlated with more frequent motor and sensory deficits, worse sensory sum score, worse scores on the disability scales, including the Rasch-built overall disability scale (RODS) and Overall Neuropathy Limitation Scale (ONLS), and lower treatment responsiveness. ONLS and RODS scales were significantly correlated (r=-0.86, p<0.0001). A change of one point or more in the ONLS score, was associated with a corresponding change of 4.1-4.5 points in the RODS score.

DISCUSSION: The study results show that a higher CDAS class is correlated with a more severe neuropathy. This was reflected by the sensory sum score, RODS and ONLS. These results might help profile CIDP patients at different CDAS classes for clinical practice and future clinical studies.