CIDP: clinical features
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
CIDP: clinical features. Prominent proximal motor weakness, Generalised areflexia, Cranial nerve involvement. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Typical clinical features
- Prominent proximal motor weakness
- Generalised sensory impairment: this is initially in the upper limbs
- Generalised areflexia
- Cranial nerve involvement
- Marked ataxia
- Motor fatigue
- Cognitive fatigue
- Pain: this may be the main presenting feature
- Tremor
Nerve hypertrophy
Locked: subscribe to see this section.
Nerve root hypertrophy
Locked: subscribe to see this section.
Pseudotumour (intracranial hypertension) syndrome
Locked: subscribe to see this section.
Unusual CIDP presentations
Locked: subscribe to see this section.
Acronym
Locked: subscribe to see this section.
References
- The French CIDP Group, Vallat JM. Recommendations on diagnostic strategies for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculopathy. Postgrad Med J 2008; 84:378-381.
- Gable KL, Attarian H, Allen JA. Fatigue in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Muscle Nerve 2020; 62:673-680.
- Steiner OL, Angela C, Geran R, Klostermann F. Motor and cognitive fatigue in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Eur J Neurol 2025; 32:e70410.
- Boukhris S, Magy L, Khalil M, Sindou P, Vallat JM. Pain as the presenting symptom of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). J Neurol Sci 2007; 254:33-38.
- Pallada G, Baars AE, Jacobs BC, et al. Prevalence, clinical characteristics and treatment response of tremor in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2026 (Online ahead of print).
- And 26 more. Subscribe to see the full list
