Table 1.

Baseline data

	Age Weight Height	UPSS 1st visit	MRCSS 1st visit	INCAT 1st visit	NCSS 1st visit	Relevant concomitant diseases	Main clinical symptoms	Supportive criteria* [15]
Untreated patients (UN) n = 35	62.1 (14.8) 80.4 (17.2) 177.3 (9.3)	12.8 (7.3)	52.3 (7.9)	4.4 (2.9)	8.8 (3.5)	DM n = 4, gammopathy n = 8, malignancy n = 4, hypothyreosis n = 2	SM n = 13; S n = 11; M n = 5; aSM n = 3; P n = 1; CN n = 2	0 n = 1; 1 n = 7; > 1 n = 27 (33 definite, 1 probable, 1 possible)
Treated patients (TN) n = 45	61.8 (15.1) 80.6 (16.1) 176.9 (8.2)	12.4 (5.5)	54.3 (4.7)	2.6 (1.6)	7.8 (3.8)	DM n = 3, gammopathy n = 4, malignancy n = 3, hepatitis C n = 1, thyroid gland dysfunction n = 3	SM n = 27; S n = 6; M n = 3; aSM n = 6; P n = 2; CN n = 1	1 n = 7; > 1 n = 38 (45 definite)

Mean values of baseline data do not differ significantly in both groups except the INCAT, which is higher in the untreated group (UN), p = 0.001. Standard deviations are mentioned in brackets.

INCAT = inflammatory neuropathy cause and treatment disability score, MRCSS = medical research council sum score, NCSS = nerve conduction studies score, UPSS = ultrasound pattern sum score, (a)SM = (asymmetric) sensorimotor, S = sensory, P = pain, CN = cranial nerve involvement, M = motor. DM = diabetes mellitus type 2.

*Supportive criteria according to the EFNS-guidelines: Nerve biopsy revealed inflammation or chronic demyelination in 11 of 18 cases. Cerebrospinal fluid protein was elevated (> 500 mg/l) in 69 of 80 patients. MRI of the spine was available in 27 patients, 14 of which (13 with definite, 1 with probable CIDP) showed gadolinium enhancement of the cauda equina, whereas 13 patients (7 definite, 5 probable, and 1 possible) did not. 26 of these 27 patients showed ultrasound nerve enlargement with an UPSS of ≥ 5 points