A longitudinal evaluation of fatigue in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

Abstract

Background and aims: Fatigue is a common but poorly understood complaint in patients with immune-mediated polyneuropathies. We sought to evaluate changes in fatigue over 1 year in a cohort of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) patients and to correlate changes in fatigue with changes in disability and quality of life. Investigation into other factors that may contribute to fatigue with a particular interest in the role other chronic disease states may play was also performed. Methods: Fifty patients with CIDP who satisfied the 2010 EFNS/PNS diagnostic criteria were followed over the period of 1 year at three tertiary care centers in Serbia. Assessments of disability, quality of life, and patient perception of change and fatigue were collected at two time points 12 months apart. Comorbidities, treatment regimens, and sedating medication use was collected. Results: Disability, quality of life, and patient perception of change showed statistically significant correlations with change in fatigue (p