Facial and trigeminal neuropathies as the initial manifestation of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculopathy.

OBJECTIVE

To report the clinical and electrophysiological features of a patient who presented with facial weakness and numbness as the initial manifestation of Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculopathy (CIDP).

CASE REPORT: An 83-year-old woman presented with facial numbness and weakness. Examination demonstrated mild facial weakness with no other cranial abnormalities. Blink and jaw-jerk reflex latencies were prolonged bilaterally; myokymic discharges were seen in the right frontalis. Cerebrospinal fluid demonstrated an elevated protein. After 3 weeks of intravenous immunoglobulin treatment, the symptoms and electrophysiological findings improved but the symptoms recurred and became more generalized after cessation of intravenous immunoglobulin.

CONCLUSIONS

This case represents a patient with an unusual initial presentation of cranial nerve involvement in CIDP. Blink reflexes may be a useful electrophysiological technique to assess for peripheral nerve demyelination in patients with suspected CIDP.