Diagnostic value of myotatic reflexes in axonal and demyelinating polyneuropathy

In 11 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP ) and 11 patients with chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy (CIAP), abs ent myotatic reflexes were significantly associated more often with CIDP th an with CIAP, an absent biceps-reflex having the highest sensitivity and sp ecificity for the diagnosis of CIDP. In CIDP, the latencies of electromyogr aphically recorded myotatic reflexes often indicated demyelination, notwith standing normal clinically assessed myotatic reflexes. Myotatic reflexes ma y therefore be useful for the distinction between axonal and demyelinating polyneuropathy.