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Rare disease
Case report
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: a rare cause of falls
  1. Toni C Saad1,
  2. William Owen Pickrell2,
  3. Gareth Payne3 and
  4. Khalid Hamandi4
  1. 1 Cardiology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
  2. 2 Neurology, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust, Port Talbot, UK
  3. 3 Clinical Neurophysiology, Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, UK
  4. 4 Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Toni C Saad; tonisaad1{at}hotmail.com

Abstract

This case of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) shows that a patient’s condition can evolve from the point of admission, gradually manifesting its underlying cause. Our patient’s initial presentation of backpain and lower limb weakness prompted investigations which ruled out compressive myelopathy and neuropathy. As upper limb weakness developed later, along with a more proximal and symmetrical pattern of lower limb weakness, the clinical picture suggested polyneuropathy. The diagnosis of CIDP became apparent only after numerous negative tests and nerve conduction studies which identified demyelination. Diagnosing CIDP enabled the commencement of definitive treatment which led to a good recovery.

  • neurology
  • peripheral nerve disease

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2019-231676

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors The care of this patient was overseen by KH who also made extensive suggestions and edits to this manuscript. WOP was also involved in the patient’s care and aided the planning and drafting of this case report. GP guided our interpretation of the neurophysiological findings advised on our presentation of these results in our paper. TCS drafted and edited the case report and interviewed the patient following his discharge.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Obtained.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.