The "spray can" sign: validation of a clinical observation in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

Background: The presentation of chronic inflammatory neuropathies is variable. The decision regarding when to intervene with treatment is ideally determined by identifying early markers of loss of function.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that an observation of functional impairment, defined by a patient with demyelinating neuropathy, can be used as a reproducible and reliable measure of improvement with intravenous immune globulin.

Design: A 28-year-old woman presented with a chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Her first complaint was the inability to use her deodorant spray because of hand weakness. A calibrated pincer gauge fixed on top of her usual spray can was used to objectively test finger flexion. Tip grip and lateral pinch were also measured. A calibrated dynamometer was used to measure grip strength.

Results: Power and precision grip force were reproducible in normal control subjects by means of the spray can test. This test proved to be a reliable indicator of reduced muscle strength in the patient and improved after treatment with intravenous immune globulin.

Conclusions: The spray can test objectively quantified the daily function, nominated by the patient, of operating an aerosol can. This measurement, drawn from a functional loss observed by the patient, proved to be a portable and reliable indicator of decline and recovery in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.