Medical Care

Untreated, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy is characterized by accumulating disability that requires physical and occupational therapy, orthotic devices, and long-term treatment. Close follow-up care with a physician knowledgeable in the field is necessary to adjust treatment.

Medications and plasma exchange may be utilized to avert disease progression.

Surgical Care

Surgical and orthopedic consultation may be required for sural nerve biopsy or in severe disease with joint deformities that require corrective surgery.

Consultations

Consult a neurologist for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of CIDP and possible associated diseases.

Consult a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist for physical and occupational therapy and evaluation for orthotic devices.

Other consultations (eg, internist, hematologist, oncologist, rheumatologist) may be necessary if associated diseases are present. Some treatments may be best accomplished with the assistance of a hematologist or rheumatologist.

Diet

No specific diet has been proven beneficial in CIDP.

Activity

Activity generally depends on the level of disability. Encourage physical therapy and an active lifestyle.

Medication

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Media Gallery

Electromyography of a patient with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy illustrating conduction block, temporal dispersion of compound muscle action potential, prolonged distal latencies, and slowed conduction.
Prolonged F wave latencies (normal is < 31).
Electron micrograph of the peripheral nerve of a patient with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Note "onion bulb" formation in the myelin sheath of the nerve fibers due to continuous demyelination and remyelination. Courtesy of A. Sima, MD, Department of Pathology, Wayne State University.

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Author

Richard A Lewis, MD Professor of Neurology, Director of Electromyography Laboratory, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Richard A Lewis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, American Neurological Association, Peripheral Nerve Society

Disclosure: Received grant/research funds from GBS/CIDP FI for other; Received consulting fee from Baxter for consulting; Received grant/research funds from Baxter for none; Received consulting fee from CSL Behring for consulting.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Florian P Thomas, MD, PhD, MA, MS Chair, Neuroscience Institute and Department of Neurology, Director, Hereditary Neuropathy Center, Co-Director, Center for Memory Loss and Brain Health, Co-Director, ALS Center, Hackensack University Medical Center; Associate Dean of Faculty, Founding Chair and Professor, Department of Neurology, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

Florian P Thomas, MD, PhD, MA, MS is a member of the following medical societies: Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals, American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association, Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Nicholas Lorenzo, MD, CPE, MHCM, FAAPL Co-Founder and Former Chief Publishing Officer, eMedicine and eMedicine Health, Founding Editor-in-Chief, eMedicine Neurology; Founder and Former Chairman and CEO, Pearlsreview; Founder and CEO/CMO, PHLT Consultants; Former Chief Medical Officer, MeMD Inc

Nicholas Lorenzo, MD, CPE, MHCM, FAAPL is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Neurology, American Association for Physician Leadership

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Dianna Quan, MD Professor of Neurology, Director of Electromyography Laboratory, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Dianna Quan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, American Neurological Association

Disclosure: Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant or trustee for: American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine<br/>Received research grant from: Alnylam; Pfizer; Ionis; Cytokinetics; Momenta; Viela Bio; .

Acknowledgements

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author Marina Zvartau-Hind, MD, PhD, to the development and writing of this article.

Sections Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy
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Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy Treatment & Management

Medical Care

Surgical Care

Consultations

Diet

Activity

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