INFORMATION ON CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING POLYNEUROPATHY

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a disorder that affects the nerves exterior of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves). Specifically, the fatty covering, or sheath, that is wrapped just about the out-side of a nerve cell is injured. The covering is called myelin, and the damage is called demyelination. The nerve damage becomes apparent as weakness in the legs and arms increases in harshness with time.

CAUSES OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING POLYNEUROPATHY

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is an immune system disorder. Specifically, the immune system mistakenly recognizes the myelin sheath of the peripheral nerve cells as foreign. Damage to the sheath occurs when the immune system attempts to relieve the body of the invader. There is no proof to support a genetic basis for the disease, such as a family history of Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy or other, similar disorders. CIDP cannot be inherited.

As with Guillain-Barré syndrome, it is strongly suspected that CIDP is at least triggered by a recent viral infection. For example, critical immune cells can be damaged in viral infection such as occurs in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), leading to malfunction of the immune system. Whether viral or other microbial infections are the direct cause of Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is not clear.

SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING POLYNEUROPATHY

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is different from Guillain-Barré syndrome in that the viral infection frequently does not occur within several months of the first appearance of the symptoms. In Guillain-Barré syndrome, a viral or bacterial infection immediately precedes the appearance of the symptoms.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy typically begins with a tingling or prickling sensation, or numbness in the fingers and toes. This can spread to the arms and legs (an ascending pattern of spread). Both sides of the body can be affected; this is described as a balanced pattern. Other symptoms that can expand over time include the loss of reflexes in some tendons (a condition referred to as areflexia), acute tiredness, and muscle ache. In some people, these symptoms develop slowly, reach a peak over a number of weeks or months, and then resolve themselves over time. However, for the majority of people with Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy , the symptoms do not improve without treatment, and the symptoms can persist for many months to years.

TREATMENT OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING POLYNEUROPATHY

The treatments for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and Guillain-Barré syndrome are similar. The use of corticosteroids such as prednisone, which reduce the response of the immune system and amount of demyelination that occurs. Corticosteroids can be prescribed alone or in combination with other immunosuppressant drugs.

The medical procedure known as plasmapheresis, or plasma exchange, can be another useful treatment. In plasmapheresis, the liquid portion of the blood that is known as plasma is removed from the body. The red blood cells are retrieved from the plasma and added back to the body with antibody-free plasma or intravenous fluid. Though plasmapheresis can reduce the symptoms of Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, it is not known accurately why plasmapheresis works. Because the blood plasma withdrawn from the body of a CIDP patient can contain antibodies to the nerve myelin sheath, the subsequent removal of these antibodies may lessen the effects of the body's immune attack on the nerve cells.