As its name implies, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) involves the destruction of myelin sheaths around the axons of peripheral nerves; in some cases, the disorder responds to treatment with corticosteroids or to plasma exchange, and is therefore presumed to be autoimmune, that is, to involve an attack by the immune system against the myelin. In addition, the condition has been reported to respond to azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, and cyclosporin A. Controlled studies have also established that CIDP may also respond to the intravenous infusion of human immunoglobulin, purified from blood donations. In the present study, 52 patients with CIDP were treated with immunoglobulin over an extended treatment period. A total of 20 patients, or 38 percent, did not respond to the treatment at all. The patients were scored on a disability scale, which extended from zero, or asymptomatic, to five, or severely disabled and totally dependent. Of the patients who responded, 20 were severely disabled in stages four or five prior to treatment; following treatment, three patients were in stage three and the rest were in lower stages. A total or seven patients were completely asymptomatic after response to treatment. Two patients achieved only a short response which could not be extended with further infusions. However, nine patients achieved complete remission and for 21 patients, the improvement could be extended with further infusions of immunoglobulin. The major advantage that treatment with immunoglobulin might have over treatment with corticosteroids like prednisone is freedom from side effects. In the present study, no side effects were observed among the patients treated with immunoglobulin. Although there is little data on the long-term side effects caused by prednisone in patients with CIDP, there is little reason to suppose that they might be different from the serious side effects that occur during long-term treatment with prednisone for other diseases. While plasma exchange is also relatively free from side effects, immunoglobulin treatment is considerably more convenient for physician and patient. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)