Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy

What is Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy?

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a neurological disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack and damage the myelin sheath of the peripheral nerve. Peripheral nerves originate in the spinal cord and branch out to the rest of the body

Myelin protects nerves and insulates the electrical signals that travel up and down them. When this protective coating is damaged, nerve signals may be interrupted, leading to weakness and impaired sensory function in the arms and legs.

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Symptoms of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy

Symptoms of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy usually progress slowly and may include:

Tingling or numbness, beginning in your toes and fingers
Weakness in your arms and legs
Loss of reflexes
Fatigue
Pain
Difficulty walking

The presence of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have CIDP, as they are shared with other conditions. Contact a medical professional if you are having symptoms.

Treatments for Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy

Treatment options for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) include:

Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
Plasmapheresis (plasma exchange)
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy
Physical and occupational therapies

Your prognosis may be better if the disease is identified and treated early. People with CIDP will experience flare ups of their disease interspersed with periods of remission, but the duration and frequency of these relapses and remissions varies from person to person.

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Additional Information

How common is chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy?

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy is a rare disorder. There are about one to two new cases for every 100,000 people each year. However, because CIDP usually progresses slowly, a person may have it for years before a diagnosis is made.

Who gets chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy?

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy can occur at any age but is more common in young adults. It is also more common in men than in women.