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Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) Reviewed 07-01-2001 Get Web page suited for printing Email this to a friend or colleague Studies with patients Table of Contents (click to jump to sections) What is Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)?Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? Organizations Related NINDS Publications and Information What is Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)? Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a neurological disorder characterized by slowly progressive weakness and sensory dysfunction of the legs and arms. The disorder, which is sometimes called chronic relapsing polyneuropathy, is caused by damage to the myelin sheath of the peripheral nerves. The myelin sheath is the fatty covering—which acts as an insulator—on fibers in the nerves. Although it can occur at any age and in both genders, CIDP is more common in young adults, and in men more so than women. Symptoms include tingling or numbness (beginning in the toes and fingers), weakness of the arms and legs, aching pain in the muscles, loss of deep tendon reflexes (areflexia), fatigue, and abnormal sensations. CIDP is closely related to acute Guillain-Barré syndrome and it is considered the chronic counterpart of the acute disease. Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association
Guillain-Barre Syndrome Foundation International
Related NINDS Publications and Information
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