1. Introduction to Autoimmune Diseases

Conditions like CIDP, Neurosarcoidosis, and Neuropathy can have various effects on the nervous system. How are the effects they have on the nervous systems?

⁠Immune mediated neurologic conditions can affect the central or peripheral nervous system. Symptoms are variable depending on affected area. Patients may experience stroke like symptoms, seizures, confusion or even coma when the disease is affecting the brain. Conditions affecting the peripheral nervous system like CIDP will cause weakness and numbness of the arms and legs leading to walking problems and difficulties with performing activities of daily living.

2. Symptoms Across Conditions

Although CIDP, Neurosarcoidosis, and Neuropathy are all different in terms of their presentation, they all involve nerve damage. How can a patient possibly tell which condition they have?

It is hard for patients to tell what condition they have because the symptoms of the same disease could be different depending on the area of the brain affected. Generally speaking, brain diseases cause symptoms on one side of the body, opposite to the side pf the brain affected (right versus left) and diseases affecting the peripheral nervous system typically affect both sides of the body.

3. Treatment Strategies

How do physicians generally treat autoimmune-related neurological disorders, and what treatments are generally used for all these diseases?

⁠We typically treat these conditions with “immunosuppressive” or “immunomodulatory” therapies, meaning medications that affect the immune therapy. Since these conditions are triggered by immune responses, the best treatment is to suppress the immune system or to remove the antibodies causing the disease with immunoglobulins (IVIG) produces by collecting plasma from multiple people. Unfortunately, some medications that we use to suppress the immune system will place the patient at risk of having infections because their immune system is weakened by these medications.

4. Impact on Everyday Life

How do these diseases affect daily living and what coping strategies or lifestyle modifications help in better management of symptoms?

Muscle weakness is the most disabling symptom these patients may suffer from. It could be severe enough to affect their ability to walk or function independently and they may become wheelchair or even bed-bound requiring 24 hour care at institutions. It is very important for these patients to get evaluated by physical and occupational therapists to determine their needs and the equipments (cane, walker, wheelchair…) they may have to rely on for their daily activities. Another debilitating symptom is nerve pain (burning, pins and needles sensation) and tingling sensation which are managed by medications.

5. Long-term Outcome

What is the long-term outcome for autoimmune patients with conditions like CIDP, Neurosarcoidosis, and Neuropathy? And how does early diagnosis and treatment rank in managing these diseases?

Once it is determined that the condition is autoimmune or immune mediated, patients should be immediately started on treatment (immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapy) which in most cases lead to complete recovery or at least significant improvement. The earlier the treatment is initiated, the better is the outcome because more damage may be caused by the disease leading to longer duration of symptoms and deficits and a higher risk of complications related to reduced mobility like infections of the bladder and lungs, and clots in the legs.

6. Mental Health Considerations

Anxiety or depression is very common among patients that have chronic autoimmune neurologic conditions How can mental well-being be supported by healthcare providers for the patients with such conditions?

⁠Nerve pain, weakness and being dependent on others will all cause patients with these conditions to feel sad and depressed or anxious from predicting the worst scenarios like permanent disability or even death. It is very important to always assess and screen for depression and anxiety in these patients and treat adequately. Treatment of anxiety and depression relay on psychotherapy or medications, depending on the severity of the condition. Patients’ mental well-being is important for a better quality of life and to also fight the disease.

Consulting a specialist