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Injury Guide

CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy)

A long-lasting or recurring nerve disorder in which the immune system damages the covering of peripheral nerves. It is not on the Vaccine Injury Table.

By VaccineInjuries.org Editorial Team · Last reviewed

Good to know: CIDP is uncommon, and in many cases no cause is identified. A diagnosis of CIDP after a vaccine does not, by itself, mean the vaccine caused it.

This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. If you have symptoms, please talk to a doctor.

What is CIDP?

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a disorder in which inflammation damages myelin, the protective covering of the peripheral nerves. According to MedlinePlus, it is caused by an abnormal immune response, and in many cases the cause cannot be identified.

MedlinePlus describes CIDP as the chronic form of Guillain-Barré syndrome. The difference is the course: GBS is a single episode that reaches its worst point within weeks, while CIDP continues over a longer period or comes back in repeated episodes.

Some people are first diagnosed with GBS and later re-diagnosed with CIDP when symptoms keep progressing or return. That change can matter a great deal for a compensation claim.

Typical symptoms

  • Trouble walking because of weakness or numbness in the feet or legs
  • Trouble using the arms and hands because of weakness
  • Numbness, tingling, burning, or pain, usually starting in the feet
  • Fatigue
  • Symptoms that continue long term or come back in repeated episodes

When symptoms typically start

CIDP develops more gradually than GBS and follows a longer course. Because it is not on the Table, there is no regulatory onset window. Pinning down when symptoms first appeared still matters, both for causation and because the VICP filing deadline runs from the first symptom.

Is CIDP on the Vaccine Injury Table?

No. CIDP is not listed on the Vaccine Injury Table for any vaccine. A VICP claim for CIDP is an off-Table claim.

  • The Table's definition of Guillain-Barré syndrome specifically excludes cases with an "ultimate diagnosis" of "chronic immune demyelinating polyradiculopathy (CIDP)." So even after a seasonal flu vaccine, a final diagnosis of CIDP is not treated as Table GBS.
  • In an off-Table claim, the petitioner must show that the vaccine more likely than not caused the condition, usually with medical records and expert opinion.
  • COVID-19 vaccine claims go to the CICP, which has no COVID-19 injury table and a one-year filing deadline.

New to these terms? Read the difference between Table and off-Table injuries.

Filing deadlines

Both federal programs have strict deadlines. Missing one can end a claim, even a strong one, so it helps to write down key dates early.

VICP (most routine vaccines)

  • Injury claims: generally within 3 years after the first symptom or manifestation of onset or of the significant aggravation of the injury.
  • Death claims: within 2 years of the death and within 4 years of the first symptom of the injury that led to the death.
  • Table changes: if the Vaccine Injury Table is changed in a way that newly covers an injury, a claim may be filed within 2 years of the change for injuries up to 8 years before it.

CICP (COVID-19 vaccines and other countermeasures)

  • Generally within 1 year of the date the vaccine or other covered countermeasure was given.
  • HRSA notes that a letter of intent can be submitted to help meet the deadline while records are gathered.
  • The CICP does not pay attorneys' fees.

Severity requirement (VICP):the effects of the injury generally must have lasted more than 6 months, or resulted in inpatient hospitalization and surgical intervention, or resulted in death. Reporting a reaction to VAERS is not the same as filing a claim. See HRSA's VICP eligibility rules and CICP filing process, or our guide to vaccine injury filing deadlines.

Records that matter

You don't need to have everything gathered before asking questions. These are the records that typically help show what happened and when:

  • Vaccination record showing the vaccine and date
  • Neurology records from the first visit onward, including any earlier GBS diagnosis
  • Nerve conduction studies and EMG, especially repeated studies over time
  • Lumbar puncture (spinal fluid) results
  • Treatment records, such as IVIG, steroids, or plasma exchange, and how you responded
  • Records showing other possible causes were considered
  • Notes on how symptoms affect walking, work, and daily life

Frequently asked questions

Is CIDP on the Vaccine Injury Table?

No. CIDP is not listed on the Vaccine Injury Table for any vaccine. The Table's definition of Guillain-Barré syndrome also lists CIDP as an exclusion, so a CIDP diagnosis is handled as an off-Table claim.

What if I was first diagnosed with GBS and later told it was CIDP?

That happens, and it matters for a claim. Because the Table excludes an ultimate diagnosis of CIDP from Table GBS, the final diagnosis can change whether a case is presented as a Table or off-Table claim. Keep all of your neurology records, including later ones.

How is CIDP different from Guillain-Barré syndrome?

Both involve the immune system damaging the covering of peripheral nerves. GBS is a single episode that reaches its worst point within weeks, while CIDP is chronic and may continue or return over time. MedlinePlus describes CIDP as the chronic form of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Is there a deadline for a CIDP claim?

Yes. Under the VICP, a claim generally must be filed within three years after the first symptom or manifestation of onset. Because CIDP can develop gradually, it is important to identify when symptoms first started.

Related articles

Sources

Official regulations and government health sources used for this guide:

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