title: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and other immune-mediated demyelinating neuropathies.
abstract: The identification of specific disorders caused by immune-mediated attack on Schwann cells and myelin have both improved and confused our understanding and classification of chronic inflammatory and immune-mediated neuropathies. Some investigators consider all neuropathies that respond to immunosuppressive treatment as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), regardless of whether there is evidence for demyelination. Other investigators rely on a very strict definition of CIDP and do not include variations. The goal of this article is to clarify the spectrum of these disorders and provide a logical classification scheme that has clinical utility and yet allows for new information that might distinguish new variations. Therapeutic strategies are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D001259:Ataxia / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D020277:Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy