Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy in Practice: Navigating Treatment Selection and Ongoing Management

Program Description

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a rare, immune-mediated neuropathy that causes progressive demyelination, weakness, sensory loss, and functional decline if treatment is delayed or insufficient, making early recognition and sustained disease control essential. Current first-line therapies include intravenous and subcutaneously administered immunoglobulin for maintenance in selected patients, corticosteroids, and plasma exchange. Evidence-based reviews note that these established therapies can improve strength and function in many patients, but long-term outcomes vary and some patients remain refractory or require repeated therapy adjustments, underscoring the need for pharmacists to help monitor adverse effects (AEs), support adherence, and reduce barriers to continued care. For pharmacists in neurology, specialty pharmacy, and inpatient settings, this creates an important need to understand the mechanisms of action, administration requirements, and safety profiles of various agents, as well as transitions between treatments. Because therapy selection is often individualized and may require ongoing reassessment as patients’ function, tolerability, and care setting change, pharmacists across these settings require updates on CIDP management. This session will also examine communication strategies for pharmacists to enhance patient and caregiver education on administration expectations, AE management, and the realities of chronic therapy, while reinforcing shared decision-making and sustained patient engagement in care.

Target audience: Specialty pharmacists
Type of activity: Application
Release date: July 29, 2026
Expiration date: July 29, 2027
Learner level: Foundational, Intermediate
Time to complete activity: 1.5 hour
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify the immunologic mechanisms and pathophysiologic processes of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and how they inform therapeutic targeting and disease management
• Examine the evolving treatment landscape for CIDP, including established and emerging therapies, for individualized medication-related decision-making
• Implement pharmacist-led strategies in CIDP care to optimize therapy selection, monitor treatment response and adverse effects, support adherence, and coordinate care across practice settings

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 1.5 contact hour (0.10 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-26-250-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through July 29, 2027.

Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit

To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, view the activity in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.

Faculty

Will Holland, PharmD, CSP, IgCP, has the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose:

Speakers Bureau: Takeda

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff—Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Jason Christidhis, PharmD, Sarah Viruet; and Brianna Winters.

Any relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.

At least one anonymous peer reviewer was used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewer has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Educational Disclaimer

Continuing professional education activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved by the labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

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ceinfo@pharmacytimes.com
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