Home
      Diagnosis
      Treatment
      Pathology
      Variants
      CIDP info
      GBS
      IVIG
      Diet
      About Us
      Email Mark
      Email Web Weaver
     Autoimmune diseases
      News
      Links
       E-Book

Celiac disease Info

More on Celiac disease

Anemia and celiac disease

Home for autoimmune disorders, information about autoimmune diseases

Lahore Sex clinic

lAHORE CLINIC

Everything about IVIg, Home to IVIg

Home to autoimmune diseases, causes, treatment, cure, e-book

Home to autoimmune disorders , treatment , causes, information

Fatty acids in autoimmune diseases

AUTOIMMUNE EPIDEMIC

Magnetic deficiency syndrome

Small fiber neuropathy

Biophosphates memantine HCl and muscular pains

Bio of HAKIM ABU AL

Pernicious anemia

Chemicals in soap danger

 

 

Eliminate risk of heart disease & stroke 

Memory clinic

Depression & anxiety

Private treatment of addiction  & Drug Rehab

Sexual  disorders Clinic

Parkinson Clinic

Epilepsy Clinic

Pain Clinic

Bone disorders clinic

Joint disorder clinic

Skin repair clinic

Gene Manipulation

Neurology Clinic

TMJ CLINIC

We offer a lecture on personality development and self improvement.

 

Is your teenage child out of your control we do behavior modification treatment with positive results and a 90% turnaround.

Our Nanoparticle treatment units are for sale. Get your treatment at home.

Sex in autoimmune disease

Reduce weight

Drug reaction prevention

Prevent Osteoporosis

Some rheumatic disorders

 
 Skin repair Clinic
 Neck Pain
 Rabinder N Tagore
 Breast Lymph Drainage
 Osteoporosis
 Electronic Treatment
 Breast Size & Disease
 Female Sex Disease
 PARKINSON
 Memory problems
 Breast Lymph Drainage
 Kidney stone Buster
 Bras & breast cancer
 Lahore Clinic
 Lahore skin Clinic
 Pandas

 

 

 

Backpain

Fibromyalgia

Personality

Electrical Stimulation Therapy

PRA

Addison

Estrogen

 

 
 
 

 

Celiac disease Info

More on Celiac disease

Anemia and celiac disease

Home for autoimmune disorders, information about autoimmune diseases

Lahore Sex clinic

lAHORE CLINIC

Everything about IVIg, Home to IVIg

Home to autoimmune diseases, causes, treatment, cure, e-book

Home to autoimmune disorders , treatment , causes, information

Fatty acids in autoimmune diseases

AUTOIMMUNE EPIDEMIC

Magnetic deficiency syndrome

Small fiber neuropathy

Biophosphates memantine HCl and muscular pains

Bio of HAKIM ABU AL

Pernicious anemia

Chemicals in soap danger

 

  new treatment

 Sand Bath

 Glutathione

 Sulphur Bath

 Massage & Cancer Cure

 Quick Heart Cure

 Say No TO FORCED vaccination

  Massage Benefits Parkinson

 Curry Powder

 Water chesnut  amazing food from water

 Sweet potatoes  highest vitamin e

 Beet Root  anti cancer

research in autoimmune diseases

 protein treatment for autoimmune diseases

 Green tea  and cancer risk

 Polio drops details

 Dementia and exercise

 Exercise and weight loss

  Sleep and stay fit

 Sea Cucumbers stop malaria

 Behavior disorder in a teenager girl beware

 Autoantibodies in Chronic fatigue syndrome

 Autoimmune Diabetes

 IVIG and Kidney transplant

 Knee Injury

 Chemicals

 Cystic Fibrosis

 Diabetes drug link to weak bones

 Polio drops hazards

 chemicals killing whales

 Plastic Bags Killing US  You mean even just by touching them?

 Limbic encephalitis  Where is my memory going. When a breast CA patient gets memory problems!

 Liver Flush

 Sex Benefits

 Sjogrens

 HONEY & COUGH

 Lahore  A city with Energy.

 Dairy and childhood cancer

 Left Right Brain Test

  Depression Breast cancer Why?

 Lupus

 Lymes

 MadCow

 MadCow2

 Magnetic Pollution Are you sure?

 Magnetic Stimulation

 MagneticFieldMap  Do you know why all the old civilizations wanted to live within the Tropics. Or was the Earth one piece.

 NanoMedicine

 managed Care

 MS GENES

 Polymyalgia

 Achalasia

 U stay young

 alternative to kitchen toxins

 Hair Chemicals

 Vaccine Reactions            Did Monkey come first can you imagine what I want to write?

 Toxic Car

 Toxic Car Seats

 Myopericarditis from Vaccination  Is Myocarditis more serious or the Flu?

 Dioxin in water bottles NO NO

 Peanut allergy sooner

 Safe Hair Color

  Stem cells

  SLE & GENES

 Toxic Baby Car Seats

 Toxic Pesticide

 Under active thyroid

 Reading disorders

 Oral Polio Vaccine

 Reading disorders

 Best New Diet

 DHEA Fountain of Youth I though it was growth hormone

 Magnets to tone face

 Younger

 Melbourne I really miss Melbourne in one word this city is "Peace." & the inhabitants are "Angels".

 Avoid an episiotomy

 Celiac Disease

 Spice Names

 transplant treatment

 DiabeticTreatment

 Bay Leaves

 More Spices

 7 Habits of Covy

 Thyme

 Vinegar

 Sunshine

 Chromium

 Acid Base

 Coffee

 Tea

 Spice it more

Myopathy

Myositis

liquorice. myopathy

 Depression drugs

 Dark Choclate

Antibiotics & Autoimmune disease

Parkinson bladder management

Marfan    Arm span is greater than height, aortic aneurysms can develop, high arched palate (roof of the mouth), Long fingers and we think this is a inherited immune mediated disease. You can turn the switch off.

 Towers

Antidepressants

CoEnzymeQ10

Graves disease

Cassava Plant & neuropathy

Morgellons Syndrome

Frequency and Nature of the Variant Syndromes of Autoimmune Liver Disease

DR JANNET TRAVELL Physician to President Kennedy, a woman ahead of her time. Said most cardiac pain is due to skeletal muscle disorders. President Kennedy suffered from multiple diseases and back pain, Dr Travell diagnosed him as having Myofacial pain. Then  Dr. Travell was hired by GM as a consultant to design car seats.

Pesticides and diabetes

Lab pe aati hai dua ban ke  Read the prayer from a poets lips 

Fibromyalgia and “Perpetuating Factors”

Breast lymph drainage and massage

For More links to CIDP go here

Celiac disease & Osteoporosis

Cancer Links

Temporal arteritis headaches

Hair loss

The Serotonin Deficiency Syndrome:

B-12 DEFICIENCY

Niacin deficiency

Thiamin (vitamin B1) deficiency

B6 DEFICIENCY

Polyneuropathy

 Bottled water and infections

Recent update FROM Dr Katz 

 

CIDP Stem Cell transplant  

CIDP in animals

Patient recruited for stem cell

Epilepsy

Ketogenic diet as a treatment for epilepsy

Cell phone

KETONE DIET

Back Surgery  Say No to having back surgery

IVIG & Kidney disease

Lymes Disease

Pemphigus  a skin disorder

Stiff Person It used to be called Stiff Man.

Mold

Interferon in CIDP

Paraprotein neuropathies

Future drugs for inflammation

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

IMMUNE DISEASES

More on autoimmune diseases

 Cysteine stones

same link

link

Link

Pain

pain

Bald

 autoimmune diseases who gets them, causes

 A Childs story autoimmune

 Inappropriate immune response

 What are autoimmune diseases

 Flu shot destroys a life

 Carbohydrates and autoimmune disease

 AlS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, CIDPUSA considers it a autoimmune disease. The longest surviving als patient was in Tucson AZ.

 Chronic fatigue syndrome We consider it to be a autoimmune disorder.

 Selinium

 Depression homeopathy

 Mercury in eyes as contaminated cosmetics are used by women intentionally sold by all the large companies.

 Toxic Lipstick  

 Toxic baby products see it to believe it. All allergies in infants are triggered by baby deodorants & food.

 Cervical Cancer due to daily stress  Follow CIDPUSA diet guidelines to reduce stress. Avoid antidepressants. Stay +ve.

 Parkinson bladder management

 TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLIC POLYNEUROPATHY WITH VITAMIN B COMPLEX You can get the sublingual formula OTC.

 Scleroderma I just saw this girl who had bone showing through her fingers and was undiagnosed!

 What is Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)  One week treatment & I have seen it go in early stages .

 Vasculitis  Two to four week treatment in early stages even cures Takayasu .

 Lupus 

 Axonal EMG

 Sjogrens A simple essential substance leads to disease arrest.

 Amyloid Neuropathy

 Polymyositis

Toxic Chemical  The cause of 50-60% of worlds diseases. Get rid of these from your house. Stop Buying!

 Lyme & CIDP treated with IVIg

 Homeopathic heart treatment

 Important blood test  Stop screwing with cholesterol, check inflammation.

 Heart test

 Heavy metals

 Liver disease frequency  Too Scientific Skip it for Phd or MD

 Hippocrates

 

 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

 Autoimmune diabetese Its not due to sugar

 Kidney disease If you said autoimmune you are correct.

 Junk DNA

 Dark Chocolate Controversy

 Homeopathy

 More homeo

 Homocysteine Lowering

 Right time for Sex  Better read this

 Sjogrens info

 Temporal Arteritis

 Diary & Childhood Cancer

 Diabetes and pesticides

 Liquorice. Myopathy

 Liver Flush

 Myasthenia Gravis alternative treatment

 Homeopathic sleep medication

 Alopecia

  Celiac Disease & cystic fibrosis

 Morgellons

 Nano particles deliver drugs

MANAGEMENT OF INFLAMMATORY NEUROPATHIES

  copper, zinc, manganese, nickel, lead, strontium, chromium, cadmium, cobalt, iron,

 Aspirin in disease

 Autoimmune arthritis

 Articles page

 Artificial Sweeteners

 Homepathic sleep remedy

 Eczema bacteria

 Light & Drug Treatment

 Tremor

 Scleroderma

 The ankle-brachial index (ABI) calculator

  Spinal Injury

 Daytime sleep and Stroke risk

 Green tea

 Homeopathic allergy meds

 New cholesterol drugs fail

 Subcutaneous IVIg PAGE.

 

 

 

More on Celiac disease

Anemia and celiac disease

Home for autoimmune disorders, information about autoimmune diseases

Treatment of alcoholic poly neuropathy

Breast Size and disease

Fibromyalgia

   Autoimmune diseases

   Autoimmmune diseases 1

  Autoimmune diseases -3

  Autoimmune aneurysm

  Auto

   Autoimmune info

  Autoimmune-4

 

 

Eliminate risk of heart disease & stroke 

Memory clinic

Depression & anxiety

Private treatment of addiction  & Drug Rehab

Sexual  disorders Clinic

Parkinson Clinic

Epilepsy Clinic

Pain Clinic

Bone disorders clinic

Joint disorder clinic

Skin repair clinic

Gene Manipulation

Neurology Clinic

TMJ CLINIC

We offer a lecture on personality development and self improvement.

 

Is your teenage child out of your control we do behavior modification treatment with positive results and a 90% turnaround.

Our Nanoparticle treatment units are for sale. Get your treatment at home.

Sex in autoimmune disease

Reduce weight

Drug reaction prevention

Prevent Osteoporosis

Some rheumatic disorders

 

 

Welcome to CIDPUSA home of autoimmune diseases
Cc    

                       Contact us for medical help

CIDPUSA and Nanotech Medical centers combined to do a 20 year research study and published the autoimmune diseases E-BOOK which contains treatment of alzheimers, CIDP, neuropathies, Pemphigus, acne, alopecia , every type of arthritis and many more by simple antibiotics. Save your money and purchase this book online today 24 hour delivery to your email. Check this offer on our home page.

Read  this link too!

Peripheral Neuropathy guidelines

most of neuropathy is really CIDP.

Article URL:  http://merck.micromedex.com/index.asp?page=bpm_brief&article_id=BPM01NE12

Peripheral Neuropathy
by Frisso A Potts, MD, Best Practice of Medicine. April 2001.
Last modified November 14, 2001.
 
 

 
History
a complete current medical history, past medical history, occupational history, family history, and review of systems.
  • Try to determine whether presenting symptoms are motor, sensory, or both
  • Inquire about autonomic symptoms: e.g., fainting spells, orthostatic hypotension (lightheadedness when upright), abnormal sweating, gastrointestinal symptoms (early satiation, bloating, nausea), urinary symptoms (frequency, incontinence), and erectile dysfunction.
  • Ask the patient about the order in which the body parts became affected.
  • Inquire about the temporal course of signs and symptoms: i.e., are they acute, subacute, chronic, progressive, relapsing, or remitting?
  • Ask about a family history of nervous system or muscular diseases, or bone deformities, especially if an acquired generalized neuropathy is suspected.
  • Try to determine whether PN symptoms are related to an underlying infection or systemic illness.
  • Ask about potential occupational exposures to toxins [Table 6], and try to determine whether symptoms are related to occupational exposure(s).
  • Inquire about the use of any medications, both nonprescription and prescription.
  • Ask about dietary habits, vitamin intake, and use of alcohol.
Physical Examination
  • Perform a complete physical and neurological examination.
  • Assess the presence and distribution of weakness [Table 7] [Table 8] [Table 9].
  • Examine muscles for (bilateral) symmetry, bulk, tone, and fasciculations.
  • Determine the response, reproducibility, and symmetry of deep tendon reflexes.
  • Test pain, light touch, vibratory, and proprioceptive senses.
  • Palpate pertinent peripheral-nerve trunks to detect sites of compression or entrapment.
Testing > Office and Laboratory
  • Consider a basic battery of laboratory tests to rule out an underlying systemic disease, especially in the patient who presents with distal symmetrical sensorimotor neuropathy of uncertain cause [Table 10].
  • If after the initial clinical and laboratory evaluation the diagnosis is still unclear, request electrodiagnostic studies to confirm the presence of a neuropathy, to differentiate axonal from demyelinating conditions, and to differentiate myogenic from neurogenic causes of weakness [Table 11] [Table 12] [Table 13] [Table 14].
Testing > Radiologic
  • Consider MRI studies if nerve compression is suspected.
  • Order chest radiographs in an older patient with unexplained sensory PN and a long history of cigarette smoking.
 
 
Differential Diagnosis
  • Determine if the symptoms and signs are consistent with peripheral [Table 5] or central nervous-system disorders.
  • Determine the pattern of weakness and/or sensory loss.
  • Differentiate lower-motor-neuron (peripheral-nerve) disorders from neuromuscular junction or muscle disorders [Table 15].
  • If a single nerve is involved (mononeuropathy), suspected a peripheral-nerve entrapment syndrome.
  • Rule out systemic disease, toxic-metabolic processes, and psychiatric syndromes as the cause of weakness.
Diagnostic Criteria
  • First, determine whether the patient actually has peripheral neuropathy.
  • Second, determine the pattern of peripheral-nerve involvement [Table 7].
  • Third, determine the underlying cause. See the related Best Practice of Medicine articles on mononeuropathies and generalized neuropathies for further details.
Treatment
Acute Care/Hospitalization
  • Hospitalize patients presenting with symptoms indicative of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).
  • Hospitalize patients if there is clinical suspicion of tetrodon (puffer fish) poisoning, black widow spider bites, or rat poisoning.
  • Hospitalize patients with suspected chronic exposure to a toxin to avoid further exposure until the agent is identified.
Lifestyle Measures
  • Recommend a basically healthy lifestyle.
Medical Therapy
  • If identified and relevant, first treat the underlying disorder.
  • Direct symptomatic therapy toward pain control [Table 16]. See the related Best Practice of Medicine articles on mononeuropathies and generalized neuropathies for further details concerning treatment of specific disorders.
Invasive Procedures
  • Consider surgical treatment of entrapment mononeuropathies.
Complications
  • Neuropathic complications are specific to a particular condition. See the related Best Practice of Medicine articles on mononeuropathies and generalized neuropathies.
When to Consult or Refer
  • If the diagnosis is uncertain, refer the patient to a neurologist.
  • Refer patients with foot-related symptomatology to a podiatrist.
Prognosis
  • The prognosis depends on the diagnosis. See the neurology contents page for details on specific neuropathies.
Patient Education
General Information
  • Use appropriate measures to make movement easier and compensate for any type of sensory loss. See the related Best Practice of Medicine articles on mononeuropathies and generalized neuropathies for details.
Self-care Instructions
  • See General Advice.
Follow-up
  • Dependent on the specific condition. See the related Best Practice of Medicine articles on mononeuropathies and generalized neuropathies for details.
Prevention and Screening
  • Consider screening for PN in patients who are at increased risk.

 
 
Management Highlights
Determine patterns based on whether symptoms are acute or chronic, mononeuropathic or polyneuropathic, and motor or sensory. Use the time course to narrow the differential diagnosis, e.g., rapid onset suggests Guillain-Barré syndrome, porphyric neuropathy, and some acute toxic neuropathies (e.g., insecticides or acrylamide). A stepwise or relapsing course can be found with inflammatory, hereditary, and vasculitic neuropathies, and with repeated exposure to toxins. A slow, progressive course is more typical of diabetic and alcoholic neuropathies, and of neuropathies due to chronic exposure to toxic substances (e.g., lead and some industrial solvents).
Recall that mononeuropathies are disorders of a single nerve that cause focal motor, sensory, or reflex changes and usually result from trauma or entrapment. Mononeuropathy multiplex is a focal involvement of two or more nerves that usually results from a generalized disorder such as diabetes or vasculitis. Generalized neuropathies involve multiple nerves and typically interrupt neural function predominantly in the distal extremities, and can be caused by diabetes, hereditary diseases, inflammatory/autoimmune disorders, toxic/metabolic/infectious etiologies (e.g., HIV, Lyme disease, alcoholism, or uremia) or be cancer related [Table 7]. Most peripheral neuropathies will have some sensory component; pure motor deficiencies suggest myopathy, motor-neuron disease, or a neuromuscular junction disease.
Look for autonomic dysfunction (e.g., erectile dysfunction or urinary, gastrointestinal, and orthostatic symptoms) as a clue to specific neuropathies such as diabetes, Guillain-Barré syndrome, porphyria, HIV-related autonomic neuropathy, and some toxic neuropathies.
Base laboratory testing on history and exam findings [Table 10 ]. Consider testing for common causes with complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, urinalysis, glycohemoglobin, glucose, BUN, creatinine, serum vitamin B12 level, serum protein electrophoresis, and TSH.
Order an MRI if nerve compression is suspected, particularly if a single nerve or root is involved or the pattern of weakness or sensory loss suggests a single location in the central nervous system.
Consider nerve conduction and electromyography studies to confirm the presence of neuropathy and differentiate among myogenic, axonal, and demyelinating conditions. Refer to a neurologist if the diagnosis remains uncertain.
In general, avoid potent narcotics in treating chronic neuropathic pain. Start with simple, non-narcotic analgesics such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents or tramadol hydrochloride up to 50 mg PO t.i.d. in treating mild neuropathic pain [Table 16].
Background
Overview
Primary care physician frequently managed the most common underlying diseases (i.e., diabetes mellitus, alcoholism). The term peripheral neuropathy refers to a variety of syndromes that result from lesions of the peripheral nerves [1]. The peripheral nervous system is comprised of the cranial nerves (except I and II) and the spinal nerves (sensory, motor, autonomic, and mixed). Fortunately, patterns of signs and symptoms facilitate diagnosis, as they generally reflect anatomical localization of the peripheral lesions. Mononeuropathies are disorders of a single nerve that usually result from trauma or entrapment. Any focal, motor, sensory, or reflex changes are restricted to the regions innervated by the specific nerve [1]. Mononeuropathy multiplex is a focal involvement of two or more nerves that usually results from a generalized disorder such as diabetes or vasculitis [1]. Generalized neuropathies involve multiple nerves and typically interrupt neural function predominantly in the distal extremities [Table 1].

 
Table 1.  Mono- and Generalized Neuropathies Commonly Encountered in Clinical Practice
Mononeuropathies Generalized neuropathies
Cranial neuropathies:
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • Bells palsy
  • Diabetic cranial neuropathies

Carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve)
Cubital tunnel syndrome (ulnar nerve) Sciatic nerve damage following hip replacement
Diabetic mononeuropathy/mononeuropathy multiplex
Amyloidosis
Diabetic neuropathies:
  • Generalized sensorimotor polyneuropathy
  • Autonomic neuropathy
  • Polyradiculopathy

Hereditary neuropathies:
  • Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
  • Amyloid polyneuropathy
  • Dejerine-Sottas disease
  • Refsums disease
Inflammatory/autoimmune neuropathies:
  • Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
  • Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
Toxic/metabolic/infectious diseases:
  • Various toxin-induced neuropathies
  • Alcoholic neuropathy
  • HIV neuropathy
  • Lyme neuropathy
  • Uremia
  • Porphyria
Systemic/malignancy-related neuropathies:
  • Paraneoplastic
  • Dysproteinemia

 
Etiology/Pathophysiology
Normal nerve integrity and function rely on the proper functioning of four components of peripheral nerves: (1) the cell body, where protein manufacturing and the majority of metabolic processes occur; (2) the axon, whose plasma membrane conducts the nerve action potential, and in which axoplasmic transport carries structural and metabolic substances from the cell body to where they are needed, and toxins and metabolic by-products to the cell body for processing; (3) the myelin sheath, which facilitates the conduction of nerve impulses; and (4) connective tissue, which provides mechanical protection and blood supply. Interruption or impairment of any of these structures can lead to transient or permanent nerve injury. Various insults to peripheral nerves can lead to (1) neuronopathy, (2) axonal degeneration (dying-back neuropathy), (3) segmental demyelination, and/or (4) Wallerian degeneration
 
Figure 1. Main pathologic events of a distal axonal degeneration or axonopathy
The jagged lines indicate that either a toxin or a metabolic insult is acting at multiple sites along motor and sensory axons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS). Axonal degeneration begins at the most distal part of the nerve fiber and progresses proximally by the late stage. Recovery occurs by axonal regeneration but is impeded by astroglial proliferation in the CNS.

From Schaumburg [4]


 
 
Figure 2. Main pathologic events of a sensory neuronopathy
A toxin, identified by the jagged lines, produces destruction of dorsal root ganglion neurons, which is accompanied by degeneration of their peripheral-central axonal processes. Recovery is poor, as no axonal regeneration can take place.

From Schaumburg [4]


 
 
Figure 3. Main pathologic events of primary segmental demyelination in immune-mediated inflammatory polyneuropathies
The attack by inflammatory cells causes multifocal demyelination along the entire length of nerve fibers but spares their axons. Recovery occurs by remyelination. The demyelinated segments become invested by several Schwann cells, resulting in a decrease in the internodal length of those areas.

From Schaumburg [4]



 
Table 2. Pathologic Events Affecting the Peripheral Nerves
Event Description Classification and Examples Prognosis
Axonal degenerationa Distal breakdown of the myelin sheath and axon that progresses toward the nerve bodyb Axonal polyneuropathies
 
Most toxic/metabolic neuropathies
Recovery is delayed and often incomplete
Wallerian degeneration Degeneration of axons and their myelin sheaths distal to the point of trauma Any mechanical injury: e.g., focal nerve trauma
 
Ischemic nerve injury
Recovery depends on the extent of the Schwann cell-basal lamina tube/nerve sheath destruction, distance to injury site, patient age
Neuronopathy Primary loss/destruction of nerve cell bodies accompanied by degeneration of their peripheral and central axons Inherited disorders: e.g., spinal muscular atrophies, amyloidosis
 
Toxic: cadmium poisoning
Degenerative disorder of neuron cell body with no possibility of recovery
Segmental demyelination Breakdown (acquired) or improper manufacture (congenital) of myelin sheaths with relative sparing of axons Immune-mediated acquired demyelinating neuropathies: e.g.,
Guillain-Barré syndrome
 
Hereditary disorders of Schwann cell-myelin metabolism: e.g., metachromatic leukodystrophy, Dejerine-Sottas disease
 
Compression or entrapment mononeuropathies
Recovery does not occur in congenital disorders
 
In acquired disorders, recovery is dependent on remyelination of demyelinated segments, which can take from days to several months
a Most common pathologic peripheral-nerve reaction; often coexists with segmental demyelination.
b Hence the term ?dying-back? neuropathy.
c Clinically, may be difficult to distinguish from axonopathy.
Based on Bosch [2], Raynor [3].

 
Demographics/Epidemiology
The numbers of people affected by PN vary by specific type of neuropathy. However, age appears to have a significant influence on the distribution of neuropathies in the general population [Table 3]. This may relate to specific clinical, histologic, and physiologic age-related changes in the peripheral nervous system [Table 4].

 
Table 3. Distribution of Neuropathies by Age and in General Population
Subcategorya Age <49 Age >50 Overall population
Mononeuropathy
35% 50% 30%
Generalized neuropathies
Toxic/metabolic 60% 55% 69%a
Hereditary 5% <1% 30%a
Malignancy 2% 10% 5%
Idiopathic 8% 5% 5%
a Categories coexist in up to one-third of cases.

 
Table 4.  Age-Related Changes in the Peripheral Nervous System
Type Changes
Clinical Decreased vibratory sense
Decreased threshold response to tactile stimuli, but normal threshold response to pain
No change in position sense
Decreased muscle bulk and strength
Histologic Reduction in number of nerve fibers
Preferential loss of large-diameter fibers
Reduction in muscle-fiber size
Decline in number of motor units (distal muscles)
Evidence of denervation and reinnervation with advancing age
Physiologic Decline in motor- and sensory-nerve conduction velocity (MCV)
Decreased amplitude in sensory-nerve action potential (SNAP)
Increased amplitude and duration of voluntary motor units suggesting denervation and reinnervation

 
Diagnosis
History
Obtain a complete current medical history, past medical history, occupational history, family history, and review of systems.
Because peripheral neuropathy can be caused by a plethora of injuries, toxins, drugs, and diseases, determining the etiology of a PN can be difficult [5]. Nevertheless, a systematic review of onset, duration, and evolution of symptoms, as well as of associated disease, family history, and occupational factors, often yields important clues to the specific cause of the presenting complaints. Because the role of the history in identifying the underlying cause of PN (e.g., trauma, metabolic, infectious, inflammatory, ischemic, and paraneoplastic disorders) is well known to primary care physicians, the following information focuses on aspects on the history that are particularly pertinent to diagnosing PN per se.
Try to determine whether presenting symptoms are motor, sensory, or both [Table 5].
The nature of a patient's symptoms usually reveals the type of fiber (i.e., motor, sensory, autonomic) affected. Fiber dysfunction creates certain signs and symptoms that can be delineated by a lack of function (i.e., negative) or by extra or abnormal function (i.e., positive). Notably, sensory involvement is an important diagnostic key. Most peripheral neuropathies cause some degree of sensory pathology, even if it is only detected upon careful neurologic examination. Generalized neuropathies (e.g., Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, lead intoxication, and diabetic and alcoholic neuropathy) commonly present with sensory symptoms. Weakness without a sensory component suggests myopathy, motor-neuron disease, or a neuromuscular junction disease [6] [Table 5]. An important exception is multifocal motor neuropathy, which presents with weakness and a normal sensory examination [7].
Inquire about autonomic symptoms: e.g., fainting spells, orthostatic hypotension (lightheadedness when upright), abnormal sweating, gastrointestinal symptoms (early satiation, bloating, nausea), urinary symptoms (frequency, incontinence), and erectile dysfunction.
Autonomic symptoms can be important diagnostic clues, because certain causes of PN typically present with significant concurrent autonomic nervous system dysfunction [6]. Examples include diabetes mellitus, familial amyloidosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, porphyria, HIV-related autonomic neuropathy, some toxic neuropathies, and idiopathic pandysautonomia [6].
Ask specific questions about the nature/character of the sensory and/or motor involvement.
The nature or character of symptoms can reveal important information about which fibers (i.e., motor, sensory, autonomic) are involved [Table 5]. Inquire about the types of activities or movements the patient finds difficult. Interestingly, involvement of a particular muscle group (e.g., proximal upper extremity or distal lower extremity) tends to elicit similar reports of symptoms from most patients. For example, difficulties with combing hair or shaving are indicative of proximal upper-extremity muscle weakness, while difficulty in getting out of a chair or the bath are indicative of proximal lower-extremity muscle weakness.
Ask the patient about the order in which the body parts became affected.
The answers can help differentiate symmetric vs. asymmetric evolution [5]. Sensory disturbances, which originate in the feet and then ascend to the knees, or originate in the fingertips and then ascend to the forearms, demonstrate the so-called dying-back pattern, and are characteristic of acquired neuropathies [5]. If the history indicates an asymmetric evolution of symptoms, this may help identify cumulative multifocal deficits, which on physical examination sometimes appear to be symmetrical [5]. Because the way that a patient describes his or her symptoms may be inexact, specific questioning may be needed to obtain meaningful information. [8]. For example, patients often have trouble distinguishing between dyesthesia (unpleasant, abnormal sensations in response to ordinarily painless stimulus), paresthesias (unpleasant sensations arising spontaneously and apparently without stimulus), and allodynia (the perception of nonpainful stimuli as painful) [6]. Similarly, a complaint of weakness may indicate sensory perception rather than true motor dysfunction.
Inquire about the temporal course of signs and symptoms: i.e., are they acute, subacute, chronic, progressive, relapsing, or remitting?
Temporal characteristics of symptoms can help narrow the differential diagnosis. For example, Guillain-Barré syndrome, porphyric neuropathy, and some acute toxic neuropathies (e.g., insecticides or acrylamide) have rapid presentations with a time to nadir (maximum deficits) of only days or weeks [2] [5]. A stepwise or relapsing course can be found with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, Refsums disease, hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies, familial brachial plexus neuropathy, repeated exposure to toxins, and vasculitic neuropathies. A slow, progressive course is more typical of diabetic and alcoholic neuropathies, and of neuropathies due to chronic exposure to toxic substances (e.g., lead and some industrial solvents) [2].
Ask about a family history of nervous system or muscular diseases, or bone deformities, especially if an acquired generalized neuropathy is suspected.
Inherited generalized neuropathy is typically characterized by an insidious progression that goes unrecognized by the patient and family members alike. If there is no history of a diagnosed PN, a family history of slowly progressive weakness or bony deformities (e.g., pes cavus, clawed toes, scoliosis) may be the initial diagnostic clue. Systematically inquire about the medical history of the patients first- and second-degree blood relatives. If the patient is uncertain, obtain permission to contact relatives and/or take advantage of the opportunity to quickly examine any relatives who accompanied the patient. Many of the same clinical exercises used with the patient (i.e., walking on toes and heels, rising from a seated position, etc.) can be used with relatives, even if interviewed over the telephone. Notably, inherited neuropathy typically involves few positive sensory phenomena and family members may sometimes have demonstrable polyneuropathy when examined, even if asymptomatic [5]. Also, a symmetric distal symptom pattern is characteristic of familial neuropathies, while asymmetric presentation or proximal involvement are not [9] [Table 5].
Try to determine whether PN symptoms are related to an underlying infection or systemic illness.
In Western societies, diabetes is the most common source of both generalized neuropathy and mononeuropathy [5]. Other systemic endocrine diseases associated with PN include hypothyroidism, acromegaly, and adrenoleukodystrophy [9]. Common infectious etiologies include Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), HIV, herpes simplex, and herpes zoster. Certain malignancies - e.g., osteosclerotic myeloma and small-cell bronchogenic carcinoma - are also associated with PN.
Ask about potential occupational exposures to toxins [Table 6], and try to determine whether symptoms are related to occupational exposure(s).
The patients exposure history can often be unclear, either due to a similarity to other peripheral neuropathies or because the etiologic agent is no longer detectable (because of the lag time between exposure and examination) [10]. When considering a potential toxic PN, it is important to (1) determine if the clinical manifestations are consistent with neurotoxic disease and (2) to know the potential neurotoxicity of a particular compound. Notably, neurotoxin-induced PN rarely presents with focal or asymmetric symptoms; it usually presents as symmetrical distal axonopathy [10].
Next, ascertain if a dose-response relationship exists between exposure and the onset and severity of symptoms. Symptoms generally coincide with or shortly follow exposure, and rarely occur months to years afterwards [10]. Additionally, the degree of symptomatology is usually related to the length or degree of exposure. Ask about individual habits, such as the use of protective devices and clothing at work, sanitary habits (washing hands before eating), waxing and waning of symptoms (at work vs. other places), recent use of pesticides, and subsequent illnesses in neighbors, pets, and children [10].
Inquire about the use of any medications, both nonprescription and prescription.
Medications that frequently cause neuropathy include amiodarone, isoniazid, platinum antineoplastic drugs, pyridoxine, thalidomide, and vinca alkaloids [12]; those that occasionally cause PN include nitrofurantoin, vincristine, cisplatin, disulfiram, chloramphenicol, chloroquine, phenytoin, aurothioglucose, metronidazole, and gold salts [12] [Table 6]. Other often-overlooked but important culprits are herbal medicines. Chinese herbals in particular are sometimes rich in mercury and arsenic. Remarkably, unlike toxin-related PNs, drug-related PNs rarely are associated with a distinctive symptom pattern [12]. Hence, a thorough drug history is important whatever the pattern of PN.
Ask about dietary habits, vitamin intake, and use of alcohol.
Alcoholic neuropathy may be related to both nutritional deficiencies (chiefly, of thiamine [B1] and other B-group vitamins) and the toxic effect of alcohol on nerves [12]. Patients typically present with a characteristic pattern of distal muscle wasting and weakness with prominent positive sensory symptoms (e.g., hypersensitivity and burning soles, calf tenderness). This pattern is also observed in thiamine, pantothenic acid, and niacin deficiencies. Like patients with other B-vitamin deficiencies, patients with pyridoxine (B6) deficiency typically present with glossitis, cheilosis, weakness, and irritability. However, pyridoxine taken in megadoses (usually >2 g/day) can also cause a sensory neuropathy. Unlike other nutritionally related neuropathies, patients with vitamin B12 deficiency classically present with sensory ataxia and a loss of vibration and joint position sense in the lower limbs. However, the distal sensory polyneuropathy may go unnoticed, because it is overshadowed by the CNS manifestations such as intellectual changes, myelopathy, and optic neuropathy.

 
Table 5.  Signs and Symptoms of Peripheral-Nerve Disorders
System Positive Negative
Motora Cramps
Fasciculations
Myokymia (quivering)
Restless legs
Tightness
Weakness
Fatigability
Hypotonia
Areflexia
Deformities (pes cavus, claw hand)
Sensory (large fiber)b Paresthesias
Tingling
Loss of vibration sense
Loss of joint position sense
Areflexia
Sensory ataxia (positive Romberg test)
Hypotonia
Sensory (small fiber)c Burning, jabbing pain (dysesthesias) Loss of pain sense
Loss of temperature sense
Autonomicd Hyperhidrosis
Excess saliva
Orthostasis
Erectile dysfunction
Bowel and/or bladder dysfunction
Anhidrosis
a All motor fibers are large fibers.
b Mediate vibration, proprioception, touch.
c Mediate pain, temperature sensations.
d All autonomic fibers are small fibers.

 
Table 6.  Drugs and Toxins Causing Peripheral Neuropathy
Drug Special features
Antibiotics
Chloramphenicol Distal, primarily sensory neuropathy, optic neuritis during prolonged high-dose use
Dapsone Predominantly motor neuropathy
Dideoxycytidine, dideoxyinosine,
Dideoxythmidine
Painful sensory neuropathy
Ethambutol Optic neuritis
Isoniazid Distal axonal neuropathy, paresthesiae are prominent. Prevented by vitamin B6
Metronidazole Distal sensory neuropathy
Nitrofurantoin Distal sensorimotor neuropathy; occurs in renal failure
Suramin Distal sensorimotor and demyelinating neuropathy
Antineoplastics
Cisplatin Sensory ataxia
Cytarabine Sensorimotor neuropathy; rare
Misonidazole Painful sensory neuropathy
Procarbazine Distal paresthesias
Paclitaxel Distal sensorimotor neuropathy
Vinca alkaloids: vincristine, vinblastine, vindesine, vinorelbine Distal sensorimotor neuropathy
Antirheumatics
Chloroquine