Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a disorder in which the immune system attacks the fatty myelin sheaths that protect and insulate nerves. This eventually causes weakness, impairment and/or paralysis in the arms and legs. It can also cause sensory impairments.
The motor and sensory impairments typically occur on both sides of the body and the degree of severity varies in individual cases. Some affected individuals may follow a slow steady pattern of symptoms while others may have symptoms that get better than get worse suddenly. Early treatment is very important in treating CIPD.
CIDP is related to a more common condition called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Both CIDP and GBS involve the same neurologic limb impairment. However, GBS is an acute condition that occurs very suddenly and then goes away after a few weeks. By contrast, CIDP is a more progressive disorder and it does not resolve on its own without ongoing medical treatment.