A syndrome is not a single disease
Typical CIDP and Variants
CIDP has a number of clinical presentations. Typical CIDP is defined as an asymmetric motor and sensory disorder that has a proximal and distal weakness (including muscles of the shoulders and hips as well as the hands and feet). Deep tendon reflexes are absent.
Variants of CIDP include:
- A multifocal variant in which the deficits are asymmetric and may involve different individual nerves. This form has been called Lewis-Sumner syndrome or MADSAM (multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and motor).
- Pure sensory variants in which patients have imbalance and incoordination but no demonstrable muscle weakness.
- A distal variant in which the sensory and motor deficits do not involve the proximal arms and legs.
- A pure motor variant in which no sensory abnormality is found.
The fact that there are different forms of CIDP points to the fact that at this time, CIDP is a syndrome and that there may be a number of different causes of the disorder which manifest in different ways.