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.
CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy) - myelin-associated glycoprotein
- CANOMAD (chronic ataxic neuropathy, ophthalmoplegia, IgM paraproteinemia, cold agglutinins,
and disialosyl antibodies) - paraprotein - MMN (multifocal motor neuropathy) - Lewis-Sumner
syndrome - multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and motor (neuropathy) - paraprotein
- conduction block