Role of IVIG in CIDP
The usefulness of IVIG in refractory and untreated CIDP has been confirmed by controlled studies.
IVIG usually is administered intravenously at a dose of 0.4 g/kg/day for 3 to 5 days or 1 g/kg/day for 2 days.
Benefits can be remarkable but are often short-lived (2 to 6 weeks), and stabilization of CIDP has been shown with regularly repeated infusions.
The two factors that predict the need for continuing IVIG therapy for more than 2 years are the presence of profound weakness when the therapy is initiated and an incomplete recovery with residual deficits after 6 months of treatment.