TREATMENT OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING POLYNEUROPATHY WITH CYCLOSPORINE-A

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an immune mediated polyneuropathy for which there are effective therapies. Howev er, not all patients improve with these treatments. Eight patients wit h CIDP, two with IgG monoclonal gammopathies, were treated with cyclos porin-A (3 to 5 mg/kg/day). In three, this treatment was successful. I t was unsuccessful in four patients who were resistant to other treatm ents and in one who had initially received cyclosporin-A. There were n o serious side effects. In selected patients with CIDP, cyclosporin-A is a potentially useful treatment.