Misdiagnosis carries significant consequences for patients1,2
The clinical heterogeneity of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and the lack of definitive biomarkers make diagnosing CIDP a challenge.
Patients with undiagnosed or misdiagnosed CIDP may encounter delays receiving appropriate treatment, potentially leading to delayed initiation of effective therapy, further disease progression, and axonal injury.
Those misdiagnosed with CIDP may undergo costly, unnecessary treatments. Diagnostic delays compound both the physical and economic burden on patients and healthcare systems.1,3-5
CIDP can significantly impact physical and sensory aspects of patients’ lives6
In a qualitative study, researchers spoke to patients with CIDP (N=15) and neurologists (N=10) about what aspects of life were most impacted by CIDP.6
All patients (N=15) and neurologists (N=10) agreed that weakness, walking, fatigue, loss of balance, and tingling were areas affected by CIDP.6
87% percent of patients (n=13) and 90% of neurologists (n=9) identified pain as a prevalent symptom. Numbness was reported by 87% of patients (n=13) and 100% of neurologists (n=10).6
73% of patients (n=11) were worried about falling, using the stairs, and fine motor skills; only 20% of neurologists (n=2) cited these as concerns for their patients.6
93% of patients (n=14) brought up lack of participating in social activities as a concern vs 30% of neurologists (n=3).6
Worsening disease can impact patients functionally and emotionally6
CIDP typically presents with progressive or relapsing symmetric weakness. While the clinical spectrum is widely varied, patients most commonly experience weakness developing over at least 8 weeks, beginning in the extremities and progressing to difficulty walking, lifting objects, and climbing stairs.6
Even when the disease is being treated, people living with CIDP may face residual burden or disability with ongoing functional impairment and reduced quality of life (QoL).6
Physically, patients often experience6:
Inability to exercise
Trouble standing from a seated position
Difficulty using stairs
Difficulty performing fine motor skills
Inability to shower or dress without assistance
Being unable to drive
Trouble preparing or consuming food and drink
Difficulty walking, including being unable to walk without assistance
These are not all examples of CIDP progression.
Beyond physical functioning, CIDP can also impair patient well-being and QoL, affecting6:
Disease progression and symptom recurrence
Identity due to job loss
The inability of patients to care for themselves independently
Relationships and isolation
Key challenges6:
- Some patients may not adequately respond to currently available treatments
- Some patients may have persistent symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and weakness
- Concerns around disease progression and symptom recurrence can contribute to emotional burden
A real-world multinational survey conducted between 2022 and 2023 found that of 1056 patients, 35% required a cane or walking stick to walk and 5% required a wheelchair. On average across all populations, including patients in Europe, US, China, and Japan, 13% (n=137) patients experienced depression and 13% (n=140) experienced anxiety. Maintenance therapy was prescribed for 81.6% (n=703) in the overall cohort.7*
*Data are drawn from the Adelphi Real World CIDP Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey with retrospective data collection conducted between September 2022 and April 2023 across 8 countries. Patient-reported outcomes were collected from 428 of 1056 patients (40.5%) at the time of their clinic visit. Maintenance therapy was prescribed for 81.6% of patients in the overall cohort. Limitations may have included selection bias due to the voluntary nature of the survey, potential overrepresentation of more severe patients actively consulting physicians, and the cross-sectional study design, which did not allow causal conclusions.7
References: 1. Allen JA. Neurol Ther. 2020;9(1):43-54. doi:10.1007/s40120-020-00184-6 2. Arvin-Berod C, Brackx F, Van de Veire L, et al. Front Neurol. 2026;16:1748903. doi:10.3389/fneur.2025.1748903 3. Querol L, Crabtree M, Herepath M, et al. J Neurol. 2021;268(10):3706-3716. doi:10.1007/s00415-020-09998-8 4. Al-Zuhairy A, Jakobsen J, Moldovan M, Krarup C. Muscle Nerve. 2022;66(6):715-722. doi:10.1002/mus.27722 5. van Doorn IN, Eftimov F, Wieske L, van Schaik IN, Verhamme C. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2024;20:111-126. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S360249 6. Roberts A, Griffiths N, Thiara K, et al. Neurol Ther. 2025;14(3):1039-1059. doi:10.1007/s40120-025-00732-y 7. Querol L, Rinaldi S, Borsi A, et al. J Peripher Nerv Syst. 2025;30(3):e70047. doi:10.1111/jns.70047