BACKGROUND:

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy is a chronic progressive or relapsing and remitting disease with a prevalence of up to 8.9 per 100,000.

METHODS:

This review discusses possible mechanisms, none of which are proven, and describes the evidence for its treatment.

RESULTS:

Cochrane Reviews provide evidence that corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and plasma exchange are effective short-term treatments. Attempts to confirm the efficacy of other immunosuppressant agents have not been successful, although they are often used in people whose disease is resistant to the first-line treatments.

CONCLUSIONS:

More and better trials are needed.