20 Little-Known Steps to Outsmart Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

7. Stem Cell Transplant

Some individuals affected by chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy may benefit from the use of a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. A hematopoietic stem cell transplant is a procedure where stem cells are used to rebuild a patient's immune system. First, high doses of ATG and cyclophosphamide are used to eradicate all of the existing cells in the immune system of a chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy patient. Next, stem cells are introduced to the affected individual's body. These stem cells essentially repopulate and rebuild the patient's immune system with the hope it will no longer attack healthy tissues in the body. A new and healthy immune system that results from a stem cell transplant has proven to cure chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy in some patients who had no success with other methods of treatment.

8. Immunosuppressants

A chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy patient may need to take immunosuppressants as part of their treatment regimen to relieve symptoms. An immunosuppressant is a type of medication used to lower or decrease the activity of an affected individual's immune system. Disorders caused by the inappropriate and abnormal attack of the immune system on the healthy tissues of an individual's body can sometimes be mediated when the immune system is downregulated in its activities. Immunosuppressants work by reducing the overall activity of the patient's immune system. It is important to consider an individual becomes more vulnerable to infections and abnormal cell growth in their body when they take immunosuppressants. In some cases, a patient may be treated with an immunosuppressant in conjunction with other medications, like corticosteroids. Azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate, and cyclosporine are the most common immunosuppressants utilized in the treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.