Definition:

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a polyneuropathy that is often disabling, with more than 50% of patients reported as having temporary disability, and about 10% eventually becoming persistently disabled. The core clinical features are a chronic progressive or relapsing and remitting, symmetrical, and sensory and motor polyradiculoneuropathy causing weakness of proximal and distal muscles. The etiology is suspected to be of autoimmune origin, and the diagnosis is typically based on clinical history, neurologic examination, electrophysiologic studies, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies, and pathologic examination. CIDP often responds to immune therapies including corticosteroids, plasma exchange, and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg).