Polyneuropathies

Inherited polyneuropathies.

The large degree of clinical heterogeneity within each of the major categories of inherited neuropathies can lead to difficulties in making correct diagnoses based on clinical findings alone. The observation of key clinical findings coupled with electrophysiological findings and understanding of inheritance patterns, should allow the clinician to make judicious use of genetic testing to confirm...

Pathophysiology of autoimmune polyneuropathies.

The most common autoimmune neuropathies include the acute inflammatory polyneuropathy [the Guillain-Barré Syndrome(s)]; chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) and IgM anti-MAG-antibody mediated paraproteinemic neuropathy. These neuropathies occur when immunologic tolerance to peripheral nerve components (myelin, Schwann cell, axon, and motor ...

Chemotherapy and Polyneuropathies

Neurology: Hereditary and Acquired Polyneuropathies

The term diabetic polyneuropathy is probably the one you will encounter most frequently during your medical studies. What are the most common causes of polyneuropathy? Which are hereditary, and which are acquired? How are they diagnosed and what types of therapy are available? The following article will provide you with answers to all of these questions. It has been prepared with the medical ex...

The evaluation of polyneuropathies.

P olyneuropathy has an estimated prevalence of 2%–3% in the general population and a prevalence as high as 8% in people over the age of 55 years.1 Roughly one-third of polyneuropathies will have a genetic cause, one-third an acquired etiology, and onethird will be idiopathic, despite appropriate diagnostic evaluation.2 There are over 100 known acquired and inherited disorders that may cause pol...