Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT :
BACKGROUND:
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), an immune-medaiated disorder of peripheral nerves and nerve roots. Dysautonomiais has not been studied deeply and many question not answered.
OBJECTIVE:
To estimate the prevalence of dysautonomia in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy in a group of Iraqi patients .
METHODS:
A cross sectional study of 23 patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for definite chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy underwent autonomic function in cross sectional study which has been done in Al-Imamain Al-Kadhmiyain Medical City from December 2008 to November 2010 to detect any abnormalities in sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic nervous systems tests.
RESULT:
This study includes 23 patients diagnosed with CIDP, 12 patients (52%) were male and 11 patients (48%) were females. Twenty patients had autonomic dysfunction, either clinical or subclinical or both.Eighteen of 20 patients (90%) had abnormal autonomic function tests, 16 of 20 patients (80%) symptomatic, and 14 of 20 Patients (70%) symptomatic with abnormal autonomic function tests. Abnormal autonomic function tests were found in 18 of 23 patients with CIDP (78%). In 8 patients (44%), abnormal results were limited to parasympathetic function test. Five patients (28%) abnormal results were limited to sympathetic function test. Five patients (28%) exhibited dysfunction in both systems.
CONCLUSION:
The findings in this study suggest high frequency of clinical and subclinical dysautonomia and parasympathetic system more likely affected than the sympathetic nervous system in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.