Title:Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP): Current Therapies
and Future Approaches
Volume: 28
Issue: 11
Author(s): Martin K.R. Svačina and Helmar C. Lehmann*
Affiliation:
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, D-50937, Cologne,
Germany
Keywords:
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, immune neuropathies, pharmacotherapy, novel therapies, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasma exchange, immunosuppressants, Fc receptor modulators.
Abstract: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an acquired immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy
leading to disability via inflammatory demyelination of peripheral nerves. Various therapeutic
approaches with different mechanisms of action are established for the treatment of CIDP. Of those, corticosteroids,
intravenous or subcutaneous immunoglobulin, or plasma exchange are established first-line therapies
as suggested by the recently revised EAN/PNS guidelines for the management of CIDP. In special cases,
immunosuppressants or rituximab may be used. Novel therapeutic approaches currently undergoing clinical
studies include molecules or monoclonal antibodies interacting with Fc receptors on immune cells to alleviate
immune-mediated neuronal damage. Despite various established therapies and the current development of novel
therapeutics, treatment of CIDP remains challenging due to an heterogeneous disease course and the lack of
surrogate parameters to predict the risk of clinical deterioration. This review summarizes established therapies
for CIDP and provides an outlook on future therapeutic approaches.
