CIDP vs. MS፡ ማወቅ ያለብዎት ቁልፍ ልዩነቶች

Though both chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (ሲአይዲፒ) and multiple sclerosis (MS) cause damage to the nerves and can coexist in rare cases, they are different diagnoses. 

In this article, you will learn about the key differences between CIDP and MS in terms of causes, risk factors, treatment options, and more. Also, you will find answers to seven frequently asked questions about CIDP vs. MS.

An Overview of CIDP and MS

CIDP is a rare, long-lasting neurological disorder. It causes progressive weakness and impaired senses in the arms and legs. 

Signs and symptoms can include:

• Tingling in the arms and legs
• Gradual weakening of the arms and legs
• Absence of reflexes, such as the knee-jerk reaction
• Loss of balance 
• Unsteady walk
• Difficulty walking or climbing stairs
• መውደቅ
• Reduced feeling in the arms and legs (usually starting with an inability to feel a pin prick)
• ድካም 
• Unusual feelings in the body
• Spontaneous pain (occasionally)

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic (long-lasting), unpredictable disease. It affects your brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves (nerves that send signals to your brain).

ምልክቶቹ የሚከተሉትን ሊያካትቱ ይችላሉ-

• ድካም
• የእይታ ችግሮች
• Numbness and tingling
• Muscle spasms, stiffness and weakness
• Mobility problems
• ህመም
• Problems with thinking, learning, and planning
• Depression and anxiety
• Sexual problems
• Bladder problems
• Bowel problems
• Speech and swallowing difficulties

CIDP vs. MS: Number of People Affected

CIDP is far less common than MS.

Estimates suggest about 30,000 Americans have CIDP [1]. Moreover, men are twice as likely as women to get CIDP [2]. In contrast, Nearly 1 million Americans live with MS, and it is three times more common in women than in men [3,4].

CIDP vs. MS: Cause

Both CIDP and MS are not inherited and have no known cause.

In people with CIDP, their immune systems attack myelin (the fatty layer that protects the nerve fibers) in the peripheral nerves. Peripheral nerves lie outside your brain and spinal cord.

In people with MS, their immune systems attack myelin in the brain and spinal cord.

Risk Factors

Several studies have associated CIDP variants with certain cancers, HIV infections, and a long history of type 2 diabetes.

The risk factors for MS include:

• Age (between 20 and 40 years)
• የቤተሰብ ታሪክ
• Epstein-Barr virus infection
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Low vitamin D levels
• Being White 
• Type 1 diabetes
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Some people believe that exposure to heavy metals or organic solvents can trigger MS. However, this is unproven. 

Treatment Options

CIDP treatment aims to reverse or stop nerve damage. Some people can get their normal nerve function back with treatment. In cases when nerve function cannot be restored, treatment aims at preventing the symptoms from getting worse. 

Treatment options for CIDP include:

• Corticosteroids: They reduce nerve swelling and improve symptoms. 
• Plasmapheresis: Also called plasma exchange, this treatment removes antibodies (proteins causing your symptoms) from your blood.
• IVIG: Intravenous immune globulin, or IVIG, uses antibodies from donors to counteract the effects of antibodies responsible for your symptoms. 
• Immunosuppressants: These medications prevent your immune system from attacking the myelin sheath. Examples include azathioprine (Imuran), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), cyclosporine (Sandimmune), etanercept (Enbrel), and methotrexate (Otrexup, Rheumatrex). 

Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody, has shown promise in improving symptoms. However, the U.S. FDA has not yet approved this drug for CIDP. 

The first-line treatments for MS are [5]:

• Interferon beta (IFNB)
• Glatiramer አሲቴት (GA)
• Dimethyl fumarate

Those who fail to respond to first-line therapies may receive one of the following drugs:

• Alemtuzumab
• Fingolimod
• Natalizumab

CIDP vs. MS: Prognosis

Early treatment is crucial to improve the chances of limiting symptoms. Without treatment, your symptoms will likely worsen. Left untreated, 33% of people with CIDP will need a wheelchair. 

Moreover, 13-24% of people have severe disabilities despite treatment, and nearly 40% of them need continuous immunosuppressant therapy [6].

CIDP is unlikely to affect life expectancy, provided you get the right treatment. 

Living with MS can be challenging. While MS is rarely fatal, severe disease can lead to complications, such as swallowing difficulties. 

Thankfully, medical advances have dramatically increased survival in people with MS. According to a large study, median life expectancy was 74.7 years for MS and 81.8 years for the general population [7].