One‐year follow‐up study of neuropathic pain in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy

Abstract

We sought to gather information about frequency and features of neuropathic pain (NeP) in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) patients and to investigate course of NeP during 1-year follow-up. Study included 105 patients diagnosed with CIDP. Patients with diabetes (N = 26) were excluded. NeP was diagnosed by the official guidelines and painDETECT questionnaire (PD-Q). Medical Research Council Sum Score (MRC-SS), INCAT disability and sensory scores, and Beck Depression Inventory were also measured. PD-Q showed presence of NeP in 16 (20%) of 79 CIDP patients and their mean pain was moderate (5.1 ± 3.0 of 10). Diagnostic delay in CIDP patients with NeP was prolonged compared to CIDP patients without NeP (21 ± 28 vs 9 ± 12 months, P < .05). Slowly progressive course of the disease was more frequent in patients with NeP (81% vs 52%, P < .05). Patients with NeP had worse INCAT sensory score (P < .01), INCAT disability score (P < .05), MRC-SS, as well as worse disease outcome at time of testing (P < .05). Depression was more common in patients with NeP (69% vs 17%, P < .01). During 1-year follow-up, majority of our CIDP patients had good control of NeP with gabapentinoids or amitriptyline. NeP was common in our cohort of non-diabetic CIDP patients. It was associated with worse functional disability, worse sensory deficit, and depression. Special attention should be paid to CIDP patients with NeP because they request additional symptomatic therapy that appeared efficacious in our cohort.