Disease States: Autoimmune Neuropathies

Autoimmune Neuropathy: This is caused when a person’s immune system attacks its own nervous system. Conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are types of autoimmune disorders. There are also conditions where neuropathy occurs from inflammation resulting from immune activities. Inflammatory neuropathy can be either acute or chronic as seen below.

Examples of Autoimmune Neuropathies:

Guillain-Barré Syndrome/Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (AIDP): This is a rare inflammatory disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the protective covering of the peripheral nerves. These nerves are unable to transmit signals at a normal speed to the muscles, which prevents the muscles from responding in an efficient manner, or at all. It can develop over the course of several hours or days, or it may take up to 3 or 4 weeks. GBS can happen to anyone, regardless of age or sex. In about 50% of the time, GBS has followed a bacterial or viral infection.

• Symptoms: The first symptoms usually include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs and may potentially spread to the arms and upper body, pain in spine and limbs and reflexes lost. In extreme cases, paralysis may occur.

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP): It is a similar disorder to AIDP in that the nerve root swells and the protective covering of the nerves has been destroyed. This impairs the function of limbs. It is a slow progressive weakness and loss of sensation in the legs and arms over 8 weeks or more, with slow improvement that could take years to recover with a possibility of incomplete recovery. People of any age and sex can get CIDP; however, it is seen more often in younger adults and in men. There seems to be no viral or infection present approximately 3 months beforehand.

• Symptoms include tingling or numbness beginning in the toes and fingers; weakness in arms and legs, aching in muscles; loss of reflexes and fatigue.

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