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Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy has become one of the most treatable forms of neuropathy. There are currently multiple modalities that we are able to use for the treatment of CIDP. Since this is an immune mediated neuropathy, where the body is attacking the nerves, treatment of CIDP is aimed at modulating the immune system to stop the attack. Once the immune system stops attacking the nerves, the nerves could start to regenerate and reverse the symptoms of CIDP. One category of treatment options include immunosuppressant such as cytoxan, Imuran, and CellCept. These medications weaken the immune system so that it doesn’t attack the nerves. Another potent treatment option is IVIG which is a pull of antibodies from more than a thousand patients which infused to the patient. These antibodies protect the nerves of the body from being attacked. The mechanism is complex and is thought to involve multiple pathways. The next option is plasmapharesis. In this process the patient’s blood is filtered and the antibodies and proteins that are responsible for attacking the nerves are removed from the blood.
In most patients we are able to see improvement using these treatment options alone or in combination. In patients in whom these treatment options are not effective, we are using newer treatments. We are now able to detect certain antibodies that attack the nerves and we have medications that could nock them out. When used properly, these treatment options are very effective with minimal side effects. In most patients we are able to significantly improve their symptoms even in the most difficult and severe cases. If you have been diagnosed with CIDP, and you are not happy with the results you are getting or you have been told that there is nothing else that can be done, we could help.