American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Which type of autoantibody is generally associated with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)?

1. Anti-parietal cell

2. Anti-centromere

3. Anti-desmoglein

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: None of the above

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is primarily characterized by the presence of certain autoantibodies that are implicated in its pathogenesis. However, the typical autoantibodies directly associated with CIDP do not include those listed in the options provided. Anti-parietal cell antibodies are primarily associated with autoimmune gastritis and pernicious anemia, not with CIDP. Anti-centromere antibodies are often seen in limited forms of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) and have no known link to CIDP. Anti-desmoglein antibodies are related to pemphigus vulgaris, an autoimmune blistering disorder, and are not associated with the demyelinating characteristics of CIDP. Given that the options do not list specific autoantibodies known to be associated with CIDP, such as anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (anti-MAG) antibodies or other relevant markers, selecting 'none of the above' is appropriate. Therefore, the answer reflects the absence of relevant autoantibodies among the provided options for CIDP. Understanding this distinction is crucial for identifying relevant autoimmune markers in different neurological conditions.