Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) rarely develops in patients with solid organ transplantation. This paper reports the clinical, biological, electrophysiological and neuropathological features of 4 such patients: 2 with liver, 1 with kidney and 1 with lung transplants.

In all 4 patients CIDP developed in the months following transplantation with a syndrome that fulfilled criteria for a ‘definite’diagnosis. All had immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine + prednisolone in 2 cases, tacrolimus in 1 case and azathioprine + cyclosporine in 1 case. One patient had chronic HCV and HBV infections. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins and/or a change in immunosuppressive therapy improved the neuropathy in all cases.

CIDP is a rare and potentially treatable condition that should be considered in patients with solid organ transplantation who develop a rapidly disabling sensorimotor polyneuropathy.

29 references.