Reply To: Working on Diagnosis Questions

Not only is CIDP often difficult to diagnose correctly, Dr. Lewis (considered by many to be an expert) lists 23 differential diagnoses in article he just updated May 6, 2016. He also lists some specific Clinical Presentations. Clinical Presentation means what does the Dr. see when you are in front of him.

Look on this website under support, read what’s there and see if you are able to be seen at a Center of Excellence.

Also from that article by Dr. Lewis: “Untreated, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy is characterized by accumulating disability that requires physical and occupational therapy, orthotic devices, and long-term treatment. Close follow-up care with a physician knowledgeable in the field is necessary to adjust treatment.”

And then there’s this, in an December 22, 2014 article by Jeffrey A. Allen, MD and Richard A. Lewis, MD.

Disclaimer, Dr. Allen is my neurologist.

“Conclusions: CIDP misdiagnosis is common. Over-reliance on subjective patient-reported perception of treatment benefit, liberal electrophysiologic interpretation of demyelination, and placing an overstated importance on mild or moderate cytoalbuminologic dissociation are common diagnostic errors. Utilization of clear and objective indicators of treatment efficacy might improve our ability to make informed treatment decisions.”

the articles are here:

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1172965-overview

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1172965-overview

Note that some patients have a non-typical variant of CIDP, making their condition even more difficult to diagnose. Please do not continue to accept what I call idiots’ diagnosis (idiopathic anything).