Conclusions
CIDP is a disabling immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy with a
typical phenotype and atypical variants, that involves both
demyelination and axonal degeneration, with the balance being determined
by disease duration and severity37.
The task of correctly diagnosing CIDP is often not easy, as there are
many differential diagnoses and possible mimics. However, an early and
accurate diagnosis is important to initiate treatment and to prevent
further nerve damage30-32.
On the other hand, the consequences of over diagnosis are not trivial.
From a safety perspective, the risks assumed from immunotherapy exposure
are obvious. The therapies we use to treat CIDP are not benign, nor are
they (in most cases) cheap38.
This is the reason why we consider patients affected by CIDP require
close follow up due to the neuronal demyelination along with axonal
degeneration associated with the disease process, giving the opportunity
to the medical team of adequating therapeutics and other medical
interventions, according to the evolution of the symptoms, to prevent
irreversible axonal degeneration.