CIDP Symptoms May Interfere with Daily Activities
What is CIDP?1
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the protective covering of the nerves. In an autoimmune disorder, the body attacks its own cells and tissues by mistake.
- The nerve damage from CIDP can make the arms and legs weak and cause numbness or tingling. Patients may notice their symptoms changing over weeks or months.
- CIDP can worsen very quickly, so diagnosis and fast treatment are important.
- A visit to a neurologist is usually needed to diagnose CIDP.
What are the signs and symptoms of CIDP?1
- Numbness and tingling in fingers and toes
- Weakness of arms and legs
- Loss of tendon reflexes in arms and legs
- Fatigue
CIDP May Not Affect Everyone the Same. People with CIDP May Notice1:
- Trouble when walking
- Tripping, shuffling, or falls
- Difficulty using the stairs
- Feeling tired
- Having a hard time lifting objects
- Finding it hard to use fingers, like with buttons
What causes CIDP?1
- The exact cause of CIDP is unknown.
- CIDP causes damage to myelin, the outer cover that protects the nerves in the body.
- Damage to myelin causes nerve signals to slow down or get lost. This affects the nerves in the arms and legs. As a result, the muscles get weak and do not move the way they should.
Who gets CIDP?2,3
- CIDP affects about 2 out of every 100,000 people worldwide and 9 per 100,000 people in the US.
- CIDP can start at any point in life, but it is often first noticed in people around the age of 50.
- CIDP occurs twice as often in males as in females.
How is CIDP treated?1-3
- Many patients with CIDP respond well when treated early.
- Your doctor may recommend physical therapy along with medicine to improve movement, reduce symptoms, and potentially maintain long-term remission. A patient in remission no longer has CIDP symptoms.
- Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) is one of the commonly used treatments for CIDP.
- IVIG contains naturally occurring antibodies that help to make the immune system stronger.
- IVIG is given through a vein over several hours per infusion.
- GAMMAKED is an IVIG medicine used to treat CIDP.
- If you have CIDP—Talk with your doctor about IVIG and other available treatments to find out what is best for you.
References: 1. GBS-CIDP International. What is chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy? Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.gbs-cidp.org/cidp/. 2. Bright RJ, Wilkinson J, Coventry BJ. Therapeutic options for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy: a systematic review. BMC Neurol. 2014;14:26. 3. Steinberg JS, Koski CL. Guillain-Barré syndrome, CIDP and variants. An overview for the layperson 10th ed. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.gbs-cidp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Overview-for-the-Layperson-ENGLISH.pdf.