American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Which symptom is NOT typically associated with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy?

1. Progressive weakness

2. Areflexia

3. Severe pain

4. Sensorimotor neuropathy

The correct answer is: Severe pain

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is primarily characterized by progressive, symmetrical weakness and loss of reflexes (areflexia). Patients often present with sensorimotor neuropathy, which means they experience both sensory and motor nerve involvement. While severe pain can be a symptom associated with various neurological conditions, it is not typically a hallmark feature of CIDP. Instead, CIDP is more commonly linked to weakness, sensory changes, and areflexia. Pain, when present, is usually not classified as severe compared to other neuropathic conditions. Therefore, the identification of severe pain as not being typically associated with CIDP emphasizes the condition’s distinctive clinical profile, where the focus is on motor deficits and reflex loss rather than pain as a predominant symptom.