cidp

INFORMATION FROM A  NEUROLOGIST ABOUT CIDP - Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy

Full text here published for CIDP is written & compiled by Dr. Rayomand Press Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge

CIDP

CIDP is characterized by progressive weakness and loss of sensation and reflexes in the legs, hands and arms to develop more insidious than in GBS.

CIDP affects both children and adults, has a prevalence of about 2 people per 100 000 inhabitants, but in the age group 60-70 years, the prevalence of up to seven per 100 000.

The progressive neuropathy symptoms usually pick up at least 1-2 months after onset, and sometimes even up to 6-12 months before the peak of the disease process is reached. Disease is then either relapsing (known as relapsing-remitting) or chronic progressive.

Young patients in the age group 20-40 years, often have relapsing, whereas older patients more often a chronic progressive disease course.

Over time, CIDP results in at least moderate neurological disability due mainly to the impact on walking ability secondary to muscle weakness and impaired balance in the legs, and secondly the impact on arms secondary to muscle weakness and clumsiness in the arms.

Disease intensity, and how it affects the patient, varies enormously.  A general description and a safe prediction of the disease is impossible to give.  There are common symptoms among those affected, but no case of CIDP is "typical".
The disease is not hereditary, it is not contagious and has no mental causes.

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