Although there is no cure for CIDP, various treatment options can help manage symptoms, slow disease progression, and help people keep doing the things they love. Common treatments include:
Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) Therapy: Healthy antibodies from donors are given to patients through infusions to help suppress the overactive immune response and lower inflammation. This reduces symptoms for many patients.
Corticosteroids: High-dose corticosteroids such as prednisone may be prescribed to suppress inflammation and alleviate symptoms, particularly during flare-ups.
Plasma Exchange (Plasmapheresis): This procedure involves removing and replacing plasma to remove harmful antibodies and inflammatory factors from the bloodstream, providing temporary relief from CIDP symptoms.
Immunosuppressive Medications: Drugs like azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, or rituximab may be prescribed to dampen the immune system’s activity and reduce inflammation, particularly in individuals who do not respond to other treatments.
Physical Therapy: Rehabilitation exercises and physical therapy play a crucial role in managing CIDP, helping to improve muscle strength, flexibility, and mobility and reducing the risk of complications such as falls and injuries.
The GBS/CIDP Foundation International provides support and resources for CIDP patients and their families. Some of these resources include:
Local community groups and chapter meetings
Community forums
CIDP educational webinars and conferences
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a rare but debilitating autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system. While there is no cure for CIDP, by knowing what to look for and getting the right treatment, people with CIDP can keep living their lives and doing the things they love. Through ongoing research and advancements in medical care, there is hope for better outcomes and increased understanding of this complex condition.
Though a CIDP diagnosis can feel overwhelming for you or a loved one, it’s important to know that you are not alone. Organizations like GBS/CIDP Foundation International mentioned above can provide a wealth of information and support as well as connect you to others in the community who have experienced the same diagnosis. In addition, your specialty pharmacy can offer individualized support to help manage treatment.
LUX Infusion helps manage the individual needs of patients requiring IVIG therapy. As a specialty infusion pharmacy, our clinical teams have extensive training and experience in rare diseases, infusion therapies, and complex medical conditions. Knowledgeable pharmacists and care coordination staff guide each patient through the potential medication side effects and, working with the prescribing physician, help manage treatment to reduce the prevalence and severity of relapses.
We also administer in-home treatment to provide a more comfortable and convenient infusion experience. The result is safe, consistent, and compassionate treatment for our patients with nursing needs. Where appropriate, our in-home nursing team trains patients to administer their own injectable or infusible drugs, fostering more independence. After the home visit and administration, our nurses also guide patients on continuing with their therapy, help minimize or manage side effects, and answer questions that patients may have throughout their treatment plan.
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. All information, content, and material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider or as legal advice. Please consult a physician or other health care professional for your specific health care and/or medical needs or concerns and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here or on our website.
References and Further Reading:
Cleveland Clinic. (2023, December 4). CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/cidp-chronic-inflammatory-demyelinating-polyneuropathy
Markey, K. A., et al. (2018). CIDP and variants as a disease continuum: Evidence from nerve histology. Neurology, 90(13), e1157-e1166.
Mahdi-Rogers, M., & Hughes, R. A. (2017). Immunosuppressive agents for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 8, CD003557.
Dalakas, M. C. (2014). Advances in the diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment of CIDP. Nature Reviews Neurology, 10(3), 160-171.
