what is cidp autoimmune disease

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a neurological disorder that is a rare type of autoimmune disorder where the body attacks its own tissues. CIDP is a slowly developing autoimmune disorder in which the bodys immune system attacks the myelin sheaths, which are the fatty coverings on the fibers that insulate and protect the nerves. CIDP is closely related to Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), but while GBS is generally considered more of an acute, or short-term, disease, CIDP is considered a chronic, or long-term, disease. CIDP is less common than Guillain-Barre syndrome. CIDP can happen at any age and in both genders but is more common in young adult men. Symptoms of CIDP include tingling or no feeling in fingers and toes, weakness of arms and legs, loss of deep tendon (muscle stretch) reflexes, fatigue or feeling tired, and unusual feelings in the body. CIDP is caused by an abnormal immune response where the immune system attacks the myelin cover of the nerves, and for this reason, CIDP is thought to be an autoimmune disease. Treatment for CIDP is often effective, and some studies show that up to 80% of people respond well to therapy. Because it is an autoimmune disorder, doctors use medicines that suppress the immune response to treat CIDP. Treatments for CIDP include immunosuppressive drugs, steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and plasma exchange (plasmapheresis) to remove immune system proteins from the blood.