• Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

Disease at a Glance

Summary
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a neurological disorder that causes progressive weakness and impaired sensory function in the legs and arms. Symptoms often include tingling or numbness (first in the toes and fingers), weakness of the arms and legs, loss of deep tendon reflexes, fatigue, and abnormal sensations. Other symptoms may include pain, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), and double vision (diplopia). CIDP is thought to be caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking and damaging the myelin sheath (protective cover of nerve fibers) of the peripheral nerves. CIDP is closely related to Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and is considered the "chronic counterpart" of GBS.
Resource(s) for Medical Professionals and Scientists on This Disease:
This section is currently in development.

About Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

Many rare diseases have limited information. Currently GARD aims to provide the following information for this disease:

  • Population Estimate:Fewer than 50,000 people in the U.S. have this disease.
  • Symptoms:May start to appear at a variety of ages.
  • Cause:GARD does not currently have information about the cause of this condition.
  • Organizations:Patient organizations are available to help find a specialist, or advocacy and support for this specific disease.
  • Categories:Neurological Disease
When Do Symptoms of Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy Begin?
Symptoms of this disease may start to appear at a variety of ages.

The age symptoms may begin to appear differs between diseases. Symptoms may begin in a single age range, or during several age ranges. The symptoms from some diseases may begin at any age. Knowing when symptoms began to appear can help medical providers find the correct diagnosis.
Prenatal
Before Birth
Newborn
Birth-4 weeks
Infant
1-23 months
Child Selected
2-11 years
Adolescent Selected
12-18 years
Adult Selected
19-65 years
Older Adult Selected
65+ years
Symptoms may start to appear at a variety of ages.
This information comes from Orphanet

Symptoms

The number and severity of symptoms experienced may differ among people with this disease. Your experience may be different from others, and you should consult your primary care provider for more information.

This list is not all-inclusive, but the following symptoms have been linked to this disease:
Nervous System Nervous System

14 Symptoms

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List View
Tile View
List View

Nervous System

The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Common symptoms of problems in the nervous system include trouble moving, speaking, swallowing, breathing, or learning. Problems with memory, senses, or mood may also occur. Nervous system diseases are usually diagnosed and treated by neurologists.
Medical Term

Areflexia

Frequency
Uncommon
Very frequent
Very frequent
Always
Description

Absence of neurologic reflexes such as the knee-jerk reaction.

Absence of neurologic reflexes such as the knee-jerk reaction.

Synonym

Absent deep tendon reflexes; Absent tendon reflexes; Deep tendon reflexes absent; Loss of deep tendon reflexes

Absent deep tendon reflexes; Absent tendon reflexes; Deep tendon reflexes absent; Loss of deep tendon reflexes

14 Symptoms
This information comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)

Causes

This section is currently in development. 

Advocacy and Support Groups

How Can Patient Organizations Help?

Patient organizations can help patients and families connect. They build public awareness of the disease and are a driving force behind research to improve patients' lives. They may offer online and in-person resources to help people live well with their disease. Many collaborate with medical experts and researchers.

Services of patient organizations differ, but may include:

  • Ways to connect to others and share personal stories
  • Easy-to-read information
  • Up-to-date treatment and research information
  • Patient registries
  • Lists of specialists or specialty centers
  • Financial aid and travel resources

Please note: GARD provides organizations for informational purposes only and not as an endorsement of their services. Please contact an organization directly if you have questions about the information or resources it provides.

Patient Organizations

7 Organizations

Organization Name

Who They Serve

Helpful Links

Country

Autoimmune Association
People With

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

Helpful Links
Country

United States

GBS/CIDP Foundation International
People With

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

Helpful Links
Country

United States

Guillain Barré Syndrome Support Group NZ Trust
People With

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

Helpful Links
Country

New Zealand

EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases
People With

Rare Diseases

Helpful Links
Country

United States

Genetic Alliance
People With

Rare Diseases

Helpful Links
Country

United States

Global Genes
People With

Rare Diseases

Helpful Links
Country

United States

National Organization for Rare Disorders
People With

Rare Diseases

Helpful Links
Country

United States

Participating in Clinical Studies

Clinical studies are part of clinical research and at the heart of all medical advances, including rare diseases. Participating in research helps researchers ultimately uncover better ways to treat, prevent, diagnose, and understand human diseases.

What Are Clinical Studies?

Clinical studies are medical research involving people as participants. There are two main types of clinical studies:

  1. Clinical trials determine if a new test or treatment for a disease is effective and safe by comparing groups receiving different tests/treatments.
  2. Observational studies involve recording changes over time among a specific group of people in their natural settings.
Learn more about the different types of clinical studies, consent forms, questions you should ask before participating in clinical studies, and the difference between research and medical treatment.

Why Participate in Clinical Studies?

People participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons. Participants with a disease may participate to help others, but also to possibly receive the newest treatment and additional care from clinical study staff. Healthy volunteers may also participate to help others and to contribute to moving science forward.

How Do You Find the Right Clinical Study?

To find the right clinical study we recommend you:

  • Use ClincalTrials.gov button below to search for studies by disease, terms, or country.
  • Consult doctors, other trusted medical professionals, and patient organizations.
  • Enroll in databases to allow researchers from participating institutions to find you.

What if There Are No Available Clinical Studies?

ResearchMatch helps connect people interested in research studies with researchers from top medical centers across the United States. Anyone from the U.S. can register with this free program funded by NIH. Researchers from participating institutions use the database to search for and invite patients or healthy volunteers who meet their study criteria to participate.

What Are Clinical Studies?

Clinical studies are medical research involving people as participants. There are two main types of clinical studies:

  1. Clinical trials determine if a new test or treatment for a disease is effective and safe by comparing groups receiving different tests/treatments.
  2. Observational studies involve recording changes over time among a specific group of people in their natural settings.
Learn more about the different types of clinical studies, consent forms, questions you should ask before participating in clinical studies, and the difference between research and medical treatment.

Why Participate in Clinical Studies?

People participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons. Participants with a disease may participate to help others, but also to possibly receive the newest treatment and additional care from clinical study staff. Healthy volunteers may also participate to help others and to contribute to moving science forward.

How Do You Find the Right Clinical Study?

To find the right clinical study we recommend you:

  • Use ClincalTrials.gov button below to search for studies by disease, terms, or country.
  • Consult doctors, other trusted medical professionals, and patient organizations.
  • Enroll in databases to allow researchers from participating institutions to find you.

What if There Are No Available Clinical Studies?

ResearchMatch helps connect people interested in research studies with researchers from top medical centers across the United States. Anyone from the U.S. can register with this free program funded by NIH. Researchers from participating institutions use the database to search for and invite patients or healthy volunteers who meet their study criteria to participate.

ClinicalTrials.gov, an affiliate of NIH, provides current information on clinical research studies in the United States and abroad. Talk to a trusted doctor before choosing to participate in any clinical study. We recommend checking this site often and searching for studies with related terms/synonyms to improve results.
Please contact GARD if you need help finding additional information or resources on rare diseases, including clinical studies. Our Information Specialists are available to you by phone or by filling out our contact form. Note, GARD cannot enroll individuals in clinical studies.
ClinicalTrials.gov, an affiliate of NIH, provides current information on clinical research studies in the United States and abroad. Talk to a trusted doctor before choosing to participate in any clinical study. We recommend checking this site often and searching for studies with related terms/synonyms to improve results.
Please contact GARD if you need help finding additional information or resources on rare diseases, including clinical studies. Our Information Specialists are available to you by phone or by filling out our contact form. Note, GARD cannot enroll individuals in clinical studies.

Learn about symptoms, cause, support, and research for a rare disease. 

Take steps toward getting a diagnosis by working with your doctor, finding the right specialists, and coordinating medical care.

Find resources for patients and caregivers that address the challenges of living with a rare disease.

Take steps toward getting a diagnosis by working with your doctor, finding the right specialists, and coordinating medical care.

Last Updated: February 2023