Duke Neurologist, Karissa Gable, MD, is investigating the pathophysiologic mechanisms of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), advancing our understanding of this autoimmune disease and opening new potential roles for treatment. This research is made possible thanks to the GBS|CIDP Foundation International, which awarded Gable a one-year research grant.
CIDP is an autoimmune disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system. The prevalence of this disease is 8.9 per 100,000 people in the U.S. People with CIDP typically experience slow, progressive weakness of muscles around their shoulders, hips, hands and feet as well as loss of sensation. Current treatments involve immune suppression or immune modulation. While these treatments can be effective, they often require maintenance dosing in order to maintain control of the disease. It is difficult to know when to decrease treatment without causing a flare of symptoms and for those who have contraindications to the first line treatments it can be difficult to find a way to control the symptoms.
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