HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Toyka, K. V. Articles by Gold, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Toyka, K. V. Articles by Gold, R.

Neurology supplements are not peer-reviewed. Information contained in Neurology supplements represent the opinions of the authors and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views of the American Academy of Neurology, Editor-in-Chief, or Associate Editors of Neurology.

The pathogenesis of CIDP

Rationale for treatment with immunomodulatory agents

From the Department of Neurology, Clinical Research Unit for Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, Julius-Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Klaus V. Toyka, Department of Neurology, Julius-Maximilians University, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 11, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany; e-mail: kv.toyka{at}mail.uni-wuerzburg.de

Current knowledge about the pathogenic mechanisms involved in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) supports an autoimmune etiology. Some of the cell and humorally mediated immune responses that contribute to the development of CIDP resemble those implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS). The effector role of circulating antibodies has recently been revisited. In addition, similar to the situation in MS, histopathologic studies support the heterogeneity of disease mechanisms in CIDP, with variants showing axon damage. In addition to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), prednisone, and plasma exchange, immunomodulatory drugs also were used to treat CIDP, although no definitive trial data are available. One class of immunomodulators, interferon beta formulations, has proven efficacy in the treatment of MS, and because of clinical similarities between the two diseases it is attractive to investigate whether some agents that are effective in the treatment of MS would also be effective in CIDP. Preliminary studies have evaluated the effects of interferon beta formulations in the treatment of CIDP, one of which has shown promising results and warrants further investigation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S Jann, M A Bramerio, D Facchetti, and R Sterzi Intravenous immunoglobulin is effective in patients with diabetes and with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: long term follow-up J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, January 1, 2009; 80(1): 70 - 73. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Brodie, E. Perucca, P. Ryvlin, E. Ben-Menachem, H.-J Meencke, and for the Levetiracetam Monotherapy Study Group Comparison of levetiracetam and controlled-release carbamazepine in newly diagnosed epilepsy Neurology, February 6, 2007; 68(6): 402 - 408. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. C. Lehmann, H.-P. Hartung, G. R. Hetzel, O. Stuve, and B. C. Kieseier Plasma Exchange in Neuroimmunological Disorders: Part 2. Treatment of Neuromuscular Disorders. Arch Neurol, August 1, 2006; 63(8): 1066 - 1071. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. D. Sheth and B. E. Gidal Topical Review: Optimizing Epilepsy Management in Teenagers J Child Neurol, April 1, 2006; 21(4): 273 - 279. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. J Brodie and P. Kwan Epilepsy in elderly people BMJ, December 3, 2005; 331(7528): 1317 - 1322. [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. R Garnett Optimizing Antiepileptic Drug Therapy in the Elderly Ann. Pharmacother., November 1, 2005; 39(11): 1852 - 1860. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. L. Linenberger and T. H. Price Use of Cellular and Plasma Apheresis in the Critically Ill Patient: Part II: Clinical Indications and Applications J Intensive Care Med, March 1, 2005; 20(2): 88 - 103. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. Gilliam, J. Carter, and V. Vahle Tolerability of antiseizure medications: Implications for health outcomes Neurology, November 23, 2004; 63(10_suppl_4): S9 - S12. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				P Kwan and J W Sander The natural history of epilepsy: an epidemiological view J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, October 1, 2004; 75(10): 1376 - 1381. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S Beyenburg, J Bauer, and M Reuber New drugs for the treatment of epilepsy: a practical approach Postgrad. Med. J., October 1, 2004; 80(948): 581 - 587. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]