Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy Combined With Limited Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis

ABSTRACT

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) has been rarely reported in systemic sclerosis (SSc). We describe the clinical, electrophysiological, and pathologic findings in a 73-year-old female with established limited cutaneous SSc who later developed CIDP. The patient had progressive limb weakness, sensory loss, and slow nerve conduction velocities. Sural nerve biopsy showed evidence of demyelination and remyelination. This case demonstrates that chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy can be an unusual manifestation of SSc, presumably resulting from an immune-mediated process.