People with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), a rare neurological disorder, now have another treatment option: Gammagard Liquid (immune globulin infusion [human] 10% solution).
Healio reports that the Food and Drug Administration recently approved Gammagard Liquid for adults living with CIDP. This ready-to-use liquid can be administered subcutaneously or intravenously. It is already approved for primary immunodeficiency (PI) and multifocal motor neuropathy.
The most recent approval follows data from the ADVANCE-CIDP 2 study. During the study, researchers evaluated how safe and effective Gammagard Liquid was for adults who relapsed during the ADVANCE-CIDP 1 study while taking Hyqvia. 94.4% of people responded to treatment in the ADVANCE-CIDP 2 study. The treatment improved grip strength and functional disability.
About Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is a rare neurological disorder which causes nerve root and peripheral nerve inflammation, and myelin sheath destruction. This condition, which slowly develops over eight weeks or more, affects how quickly nerve signals are transmitted. Doctors don’t know exactly what causes CIDP. Many people consider it to be an autoimmune disorder, a condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. While it can affect anybody, it is most commonly seen in people assigned male at birth. It is also more common in adults than it is in younger individuals. CIDP leads to symptoms such as:
- Muscle weakness in the hands and feet, hips and thighs, and shoulders and upper arms
- Difficulty walking
- Poor balance and coordination
- Muscle atophy in affected muscles
- Numbness or decreased sensation, pain, tingling, or burning
- Loss of deep tendon reflexes
- Fatigue
- Difficulty breathing
- Double vision
- Hoarseness or slurred speech
Treatment options for CIDP include corticosteroids, plasmapheresis, and intravenous immunoglobulin. Ultimately, the goal of these treatments is to suppress or modulate the immune response, reducing inflammation.
If you have CIDP and are looking for community, consider reaching out to a local chapter of the GBS/CIDP Foundation International.
