Re: cidp

Posted By CCF Neurology MD - AY on January 05, 1999 at 06:22:56:

In Reply to: cidp posted by marry on January 05, 1999 at 03:54:45:






my husband has cidp he has had all the so call mirical treatments with no sucess atall. we would like to know what to expectin the future. and is thij related to ald?




Thanks for your question.  Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP)
is a slowly evolving inflammatory process (achieving its maximum severity
after several months or even a year or longer) which destroy the myelin
(fatty layers) of axons.  Initial symptoms usually include weakness of limbs,
particularly of the proximal leg muscles, numbness, and other altered
sensations of hands and feet.  The different treatment modalities include
high doses of intra-venous gamma globulin, which can be repeated after an
initial course of 4-5 days; plasma exchange or plasmapheresis; corticosteroids.
A portion of the patients will present enough recovery so that treatment
can be discontinued, or significantly scaled down to avoid side-effects.
Unfortunately, the long term prognosis for a portion of the patients is
poor, with progressive disability and treatment dependence.  Please discuss
the above mentioned treatment options with your husband's physicians.
I hope this information is helpful.  Best of luck.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
Please consult your doctor regarding diagnostic and treatment options.