Shibuya K, Tsuneyama A, Misawa S, et al. - Researchers conducted the study for systematically evaluating cranial nerve involvement in typical and atypical chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). They reviewed clinical data in 132 consecutive patients with CIDP, involving typical CIDP (n = 89), multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and motor neuropathy (MADSAM; n = 31), distal acquired demyelinating symmetric (DADS; n=9) and others (n = 3). The authors discovered that cranial nerve palsy frequency was 11% in typical CIDP, 48% in MADSAM, and 11% in DADS. Facial and bulbar palsy occurred most commonly (9%), accompanied by ocular motor nerve palsy (5%). Bilateral involvement was observed in all typical CIDP and DADS patients, while, 80% of MADSAM patients had unilateral palsy. In typical CIDP, but not in MADSAM, the presence of cranial nerve involvement was related to more severe limb muscle weakness. Cranial nerve palsy was completely recovered in 90% of typical CIDP and 67% of MADSAM cases. Cranial palsy in MADSAM is frequent and unilateral among the CIDP subtypes, and less frequent and bilateral in typical CIDP and DADS. Facial and bulbar palsy reflects more severe and extensive inflammation in typical CIDP.