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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.
|
|
| 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
- Bell
s
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
- Refsum
s
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, Refsum s
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 patient s
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 patient s
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 |
| | | | |