Reply To: What blood tests have you done?
At any rate, in an attempt to better answer your question, according to the Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System 15:1–9 (2010)-
Table 2
. Investigations to be considered.
To diagnose chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
Electrodiagnostic studies including sensory and motor nerve conduction studies, which may be repeated, performed bilaterally, or use proximal stimulation for motor nerves
CSF examination including cells and protein
MRI spinal roots, brachial plexus, and lumbosacral plexus
Nerve biopsy.
To detect concomitant diseases (<span style=”color: green;”>and, in my experience to rule things out as much as to rule CIDP in</span>)
Recommended studies
(a)Serum and urine paraprotein detection by immunofixation*
Fasting blood glucose
Complete blood count
Renal function
Liver function
Antinuclear factor
Thyroid function
(b) Studies to be performed if clinically indicated
Skeletal survey*
Oral glucose tolerance test
Borrelia burgdorferi serology
C reactive protein
Extractable nuclear antigen antibodies
Chest radiograph
Angiotensin-converting enzyme
HIV antibody
To detect hereditary neuropathy:
Examination of parents and siblings
Appropriate gene testing (especially PMP22 duplication and connexin 32 mutations)
Nerve biopsy
*Repeating these should be considered in patients who are or
become unresponsive to treatment.
Still, it is unrealistic to expect to find a ‘rogue’ antibody.
The proper use, understanding and interpretation, of this sort of testing is tone reason for everyone to consider finding a GBS-CIDP Center of Excellence.