Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy presenting as Guillain-Barre syndrome: A case presentation

Abstract

Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) are immune-related neuropathies and differentiated mainly by disease course. GBS is characterized by a monophasic course, with a clinical nadir within 4 weeks of symptom onset, whereas CIDP typically demonstrates a slowly progressive course with gradual worsening over more than an 8-week period. Both may share common features such as demyelinating polyneuropathy, raised protein in cerebrospinal fluid, and conduction delay or block in nerve conduction study. Here, we present a case who was diagnosed and managed as GBS based on history, clinical presentation, and electrodiagnostic criteria on initial visit. Later on, we revised our diagnosis to acute-CIDP when the patient deteriorated after 8 weeks. This subset of the patient (up to 16% of CIDP) may initially present as GBS. Distinguishing between GBS and CIDP is crucial as prognosis and treatment differ.