Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)

What is CIDP?

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a rare neurological disorder that causes inflammation of your body’s nerves. Though your immune system generally keeps you healthy by fighting off germs, with CIDP, your immune system does not recognize parts of your nerves and attacks them.

Specifically, the immune system mistakenly attacks your nerves’ protective myelin. When the myelin is damaged or removed, messages transmitted to and from the brain are disrupted and may never make it to their final destination.

Over time, this may cause gradual weakness, numbness and a loss of feeling in your arms and legs. If left untreated, CIDP can cause permanent damage to the nerves.

 

The symptoms of CIDP include numbness, weakness and tingling of the arms and legs.

What is myelin?

Nerves are responsible for sending messages to and from the brain, like when you want your hand to grasp an object or when your hand tells your brain the stove is hot. Healthy nerves are wrapped in a sheath called myelin, much like electric wires wrapped in rubber insulation. The insulation allows electric impulses to travel efficiently along.

CIDP Patient Elizabeth Thirtyacre

Living with CIDP

Elizabeth Thirtyacre is living with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, also known as CIDP. The rare neurological disorder can cause muscle and nerve damage and lead to pain and weakness among other symptoms. She advises patients like her to listen to their body.

Watch Elizabeth's tips

Here is a sampling of our Vita stories on CIDP:

To read all of our stories, please visit our Vita homepage.

Attendees at the 2018 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Los Angeles participated in a demonstration of what it’s like to deal with common Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy symptoms.
When Common Symptoms Aren’t So Common

Weakness, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs may be signs of CIDP.

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Estelle Benson
From a Living Room to 46 Countries

Award winner Estelle Benson reflects on 35 years of the GBS/CIDP Foundation.

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NORD staffers cheer on the Running for Rare team at the Hartford Marathon
Safeguarding the Rights of a Vulnerable Population

NORD celebrates 35 years of advocating for people with rare diseases.

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Resources for you

RESOURCE DESCRIPTION
GBS/CIDP Foundation International Global non-profit organization supporting individuals and families affected by GBS, CIDP, or related syndromes such as MMN. View Website
National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD) CIDP overview from a patient advocacy organization dedicated to individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them. View Website  
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Treatments Available

Availability of treatments may vary from country to country. Please be sure to visit your local CSLBehring.com site for further information.

Privigen® | Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human) 10% Liquid

US Prescribing Information

US Important Safety Information (Selected) 

WARNINGS:
Thrombosis (blood clotting) can occur with immune globulin products, including Privigen. Risk factors may include advanced age, prolonged immobilization, a history of blood clotting or hyperviscosity (thick blood), use of estrogens, installed vascular catheters, and cardiovascular risk factors.

In predisposed patients, kidney malfunction and acute kidney failure, potentially fatal, can occur with the administration of human immune globulin intravenous (IGIV) products. Kidney problems occur more commonly in patients receiving IGIV products that contain sucrose. Privigen does not contain sucrose.

If you are at high risk of thrombosis or kidney problems, your doctor will prescribe and administer Privigen at the minimum dose and infusion rate practicable, and will monitor you for signs and symptoms of thrombosis and viscosity, as well as kidney function. Always drink sufficient fluids before administration.

See your doctor for a full explanation, and the full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.

In clinical trials of Privigen, headache was the most common side effect. Other common side effects that can be seen with treatment include fatigue, nausea, fever, and high blood pressure. These are not the only side effects possible; see the full prescribing information for a complete list of adverse reactions possible with treatment for each condition. Alert your physician to any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

Full US Important Safety Information
 
 Hizentra® | Immune Globulin Subcutaneous (Human) 20% Liquid

 US Prescribing Information

 US Important Safety Information (Selected)

WARNING:
Thrombosis (blood clots) can occur with immune globulin products, including Hizentra. Risk factors include: advanced age, prolonged immobilization, a history of blood clotting or blood thickness, use of estrogens, installed vascular catheters, and cardiovascular risk factors.  If you are at high risk of blood clots, your doctor will prescribe the minimum dose and infusion rate practicable and will monitor for signs of clotting events and hyperviscosity. Always drink sufficient fluids before infusing Hizentra.


See your doctor for a full explanation, and the full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.


The most common side effects in the clinical trials for Hizentra include redness, swelling, itching, and/or bruising at the infusion site; headache; chest, joint or back pain; diarrhea; tiredness; cough; rash; itching; fever, nausea, and vomiting. These are not the only side effects possible. Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

 

Full US Important Safety Information
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