1. Attacks the Nervous System
There are a lot of names for paraproteinaemic demyelinating neuropathy, as though that name isn't enough of a mouthful. Other names for the condition include CIDP or MGUS. The words all differ slightly but mean the same thing: damage to the nervous system from a protein antibody found in excess in the blood. The immune system kicks into full gear and produces the protein antibodies that attack the myelin sheath around the nerves. Once exposed, it works a lot like a wire that had the sheath removed. It shorts, sparks and sends the electrical current out in a variety of ways. Few of them are normal.
2. Usually Strikes Older and Recovering People
The condition is related the Guillain-Barré's and CIPD. There are different nerves affected and multiple causes of the disease. Frequently the condition begins after an illness, a stroke or even childbirth. The exact cause of the increased output of the immune system varies in each person. Paraproteinaemic demyelinating neuropathy occurs mostly to people beyond the age of 60, but is not limited to this group.
3. Symptoms Include Pain, Tingling and Weakness
Paraproteinaemic demyelinating neuropathy may move slowly or extremely rapidly. There is sometimes unusual pain, tingling, sensory irregularities, autonomous functioning interruptions, weakness or inability to use limbs or move properly. This immune system disorder varies widely in symptoms because the damaged nerve sheaths that receive the attack vary. It can affect the heart, eyes, legs, arms, throat or even the lungs.
4. Causes and Outcome are Unkown
Scientists know that it isn't a condition that you can catch, but may come after something as simple as a bout with diarrhea. Since it varies so much in symptoms, many times it is difficult to identify, and once identified it is even more difficult to treat. The nature of the syndrome varies by the nerves affected and the extent of damage to the outer myelin sheath. Sometimes the damage is slow and occasional discomfort is the result. Other times the damage is rapid, debilitating and lethal.
5. Hope Is on the Horizon
There are always new tests and discoveries in the area of medical science. Autoimmune drugs were not successful with many forms of the disorder. Some hope exists for the use of intravenous pulses of fludarabine as a potential cure for certain forms of the disorder. Identification of the cause of the irregular antibody production and the ability to correct the production remain mysteries for medical science to solve.
