CIDP associated with Sjogren's syndrome

Background This study addresses the challenging characterisation and differentiation of CIDP versus CIDP in association with Sjogren's syndrome to facilitate the process in clinical routine. Methods Patients with both CIDP and Sjogren's syndrome and CIDP without Sjogren's syndrome were compared concerning relevant differences in clinical, laboratory and electrophysiological findings. 154 patients who fulfilled the diagnostic EFNS/PNS criteria for CIDP were included in the analysis. 54 of these patients additionally fulfilled the ACR/EULAR classification criteria for Sjogren's syndrome. Results The frequency of female patients was higher in patients with CIDP and Sjogren's syndrome (52%) versus CIDP patients without Sjogren's syndrome (28%). Furthermore, the occurrence of cranial nerve impairment was significantly higher in patients with Sjogren's syndrome (39% versus 14%). There were no significant group differences in the evaluation of initial symptoms, severity of disability judged by INCAT disability scale score, presence or distribution of sensory deficits, limb weakness and the presence of ataxia, pain or dysautonomia, CSF laboratory or electrophysiological findings. Conclusions In conclusion, our data indicate that cranial nerve impairment and female gender might represent red flags for an additional Sjogren's syndrome in patients with CIDP. The patterns of clinical disabilities and electrophysiological findings due to peripheral nerve damage are similar in both CIDP entities.