Reply To: Does getting the flu affect CIDP?

The flu triggers our autoimmune systems to go into action to fight off the illness. Those of us who have GBS/CIDP or its variants, already have compromised immune systems. In this case it is not completely understood what kind of antibodies our systems may produce to help our bodies fight off the flu. Antibodies that don’t properly recognize “self” could be produced and attack, as an example, our myelin sheath. This in turn could increase the symptoms we are trying to heal and reduce with IVIg treatments.

I’ve had the flu a few times since CIDP and it’s always a concern for me that it could bring back symptoms or flare up residuals. So far, it hasn’t.