Introduction: Monitoring grip strength at home may detect improvement between intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatments in patients with chronic inflammatory neuropathies (CINs).
Methods: Fifteen patients recorded grip strength each day, from one IVIg treatment until the next. We analyzed grip strength changes comparing thresholds of 8 kPa and 14 kPa. "Random" fluctuations of grip strength were distinguished from treatment response by smoothing the data.
Results: "Random" fluctuations of at least 8 kPa occurred in 27% of patients. Smoothed daily grip strength increased by at least 8 kPa above baseline in 11 (73%) patients. Grip strength increased by at least 8 kPa for 3 consecutive days in 9 (60%) patients, and 5-day block mean increased by at least 8 kPa in 10 (67%) patients.
Discussion: Home monitoring of grip strength confirmed treatment response in most patients with CINs on IVIg. To detect improvement in an individual patient, we suggest a threshold of at least 8 kPa on 3 consecutive days or on 5-day block mean.
Keywords: CIDP; chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy; grip strength; multifocal motor neuropathy; outcome measures.
© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.