Increased muscle echointensity correlates with clinical disability and muscle strength in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

Background and purpose We evaluated muscle echointensity as a marker for secondary axonal damage in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) using ultrasonography. Findings were correlated clinical disability muscular strength. Methods Eighty CIDP (40 typical 40 atypical CIDP) examined clinically, including assessment of Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause Treatment Overall Disability Sum Score (INCAT-ODSS). Echointensity eight proximal distal muscles the arms legs was by ultrasonography Heckmatt scale. Results Alterations occurred most frequently leg muscles, median (range) 1.5 (1–4). There no differences between regard to score. The arm INCAT-ODSS (r = 0.23, p 0.046) scores 0.34, 0.002) 0.33, 0.004). MRC score, well individual corresponding groups ?0.25, 0.02 score). Conclusion Increased echointensity, reflecting fibrosis fatty infiltration due damage, strength large cohort patients. occur both are pronounced muscles.