Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

What is chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy?

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a neurological condition that causes nerve inflammation and damage to the fatty tissue (myelin sheath) that covers and protects the nerve fibers.

In addition to protecting your nerve fibers, the myelin sheath assists in transferring nerve signals to and from your brain. Damage to your myelin sheath slows or blocks those nerve signals and can cause permanent loss of nerve function.

CIDP affects motor and sensory nerves, causing weakness, paralysis, and abnormal sensations (burning, tingling, pain).

It’s theorized that CIDP is a chronic form of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), an autoimmune disease in which your immune system mistakenly attacks and damages your nerves. This nerve damage is acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP).

GBS can last weeks or months, but most people fully recover.

What are the symptoms of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy?

With CIDP, you often experience progressive weakness in your hips, shoulders, hands, and feet over two months. You might also have difficulty walking due to losing feeling in your feet.

CIDP can cause abnormal sensations, like burning, numbness, tingling, or pain in your hands or feet. Poor coordination, fatigue, hoarseness, and difficulty speaking are also symptoms of CIDP.

How is chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy diagnosed?

The Sunset Neurological & Psychiatry Group experts complete thorough exams to find the root cause of your neurological symptoms.

Your provider reviews your symptoms and medical and family histories. They complete a physical and neurological exam and run diagnostic tests like:

• Nerve conduction studies (NCS)
• Nerve biopsy
• Spinal tap
• Blood work
• MRI

The team makes a diagnosis based on your symptoms and by ruling out other neurological conditions.

How is chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy treated?

Treatment for CIDP focuses on preventing further nerve damage, healing the damage already done, and restoring nerve function. Your CIDP treatment at Sunset Neurological & Psychiatry Group can include:

• Corticosteroids
• Immunosuppressant medication
• Plasmapheresis — plasma exchange removing antibodies from your blood
• Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) — adding antibodies to your blood

The team could also recommend physical therapy to restore muscle strength, balance, and coordination.

Treatment differs from person to person. Some people might experience significant improvements with one treatment, while others need a series of treatments.

Early diagnosis and treatment could speed up your recovery.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is a rare but treatable condition. Call Sunset Neurological & Psychiatry Group today or schedule an appointment online.