CIDP Treatment Outcomes Correlation With First Nerve Conduction Changes: Ascertainment of Initial and Long-Term Responders

Abstract

Background and Aims

Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are integral to diagnosing chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), but their role in predicting treatment outcomes remains underexplored. This study evaluates NCS changes at first follow-up (first NCS changes) as predictors of treatment success in CIDP, focusing on their correlation with clinical outcomes over time.

Methods

Newly diagnosed CIDP patients meeting the 2021 EAN/PNS criteria were retrospectively evaluated. Baseline and first follow-up NCS parameters were compared with clinical outcomes, assessed by the Neuropathy Impairment Score (NIS) and Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment (INCAT) disability score. All patients received first-line immunotherapy (intravenous immunoglobulin, corticosteroids, or plasma exchange).

Results

Of 39 treated patients, 26 (66.7%) were responders based on improving NIS trends, while 13 (33.3%) were nonresponders. Responders showed significant improvements at the first follow-up in fibular compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude, ulnar CMAP amplitude, summated CMAP amplitudes, and fibular motor conduction velocity. Changes in fibular CMAP amplitude consistently correlated with NIS (R = −0.8 to −0.6, p ≤ 0.004) and INCAT disability score improvements (R = −0.6 to −0.3, p ≤ 0.032) across all follow-up intervals up to 60 months. Ulnar and summated CMAP amplitude changes also correlated with clinical outcomes, though their associations were less sustained than those of fibular CMAP amplitude.

Interpretation

The first change in fibular CMAP amplitude is a reliable biomarker for predicting CIDP treatment response, with ulnar and summated CMAP amplitudes as alternatives when the fibular response is absent. Our findings highlight the utility of first NCS changes in monitoring and predicting treatment outcomes in CIDP.