Corneal sensitivity in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

PURPOSE: Neurotrophic keratitis may result from a variety of ocular or systemic diseases. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an autoimmune neuropathy that affects any nerve plexus but with no known association with corneal disease. We observed 2 patients with CIDP and visually compromising neurotrophic corneal ulcers. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of neurotrophic corneas in patients with CIDP to identify a subpopulation of asymptomatic patients who are at risk for vision loss. METHODS: This is an observational case series of 2 patients with CIDP with visually compromising neurotrophic corneal ulcers and a prospective clinical study comparing corneal sensitivity in 9 patients with CIDP versus 9 age- and sex-matched controls. Corneal sensitivity was tested with an esthesiometer. Statistical analyses were performed to determine patterns or significances in relation to the subject?s age, gender, and duration and severity of the disease. RESULTS: The overall median corneal sensitivity was 5.7 for patients with CIDP and 6.0 for controls (P = 0.09). The mean corneal sensitivity was 5.6 ± 0.4 in patients with CIDP compared with 5.8 ± 0.3 in controls. No specific pattern was found with age, gender, or duration and severity of the disease among patients with CIDP. CONCLUSIONS: Although the case series demonstrated decreased corneal sensitivity in both patients with CIDP, the prospective study detected reduced corneal sensitivity in patients with CIDP when compared with controls, but did not reach statistical significance. Ophthalmic examinations with measurement of corneal sensitivity should be considered in the management of patients with CIDP.