Polyneuropathy

Polyneuropathy
Micrograph showing peripheral neuropathy (vasculitis).Polyneuropathy is peripheral neuropathy occurring in the same area on both sides of the body.
Classification and external resources
Specialty	neurology
ICD-10	G60-G64
ICD-9-CM	356.4, 357.1-357.7
Patient UK	Polyneuropathy
MeSH	D011115
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Polyneuropathy ( + + ) is damage or disease affecting peripheral nerves (peripheral neuropathy) in roughly the same areas on both sides of the body, featuring weakness, numbness, and burning pain. It usually begins in the hands and feet and may progress to the arms and legs; and sometimes to other parts of the body where it may affect the autonomic nervous system. It may be acute or chronic. A number of different disorders may cause polyneuropathy, including diabetes and some types of Guillain–Barré syndrome.

Polyneuropathies may be classified in different ways, such as by cause, by presentation, or by classes of polyneuropathy, in terms of which part of the nerve cell is affected mainly: the axon, the myelin sheath, or the cell body.

Among the signs/symptoms of polyneuropathy, which can be divided (into sensory and hereditary) and are consistent with the following:

The causes (etiology) of polyneuropathy can be divided into hereditary and acquired and are therefore as follows:

In regards to the pathophysiology of polyneuropathy, of course, the former depends on which polyneuropathy. For instance in the case of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, one finds that it is a autoimmune disease. Here, T cells involvement has been demonstrated, while in terms of demyelination, antibodies alone are not capable.

The diagnosis of polyneuropathies begins with a history and physical examination to ascertain the pattern of the disease process (such as-arms, legs, distal, proximal) if they fluctuate, and what deficits and pain are involved. If pain is a factor, determining where and how long the pain has been present is important, one also needs to know what disorders are present within the family and what diseases the person may have. Although diseases often are suggested by the physical examination and history alone, tests that may be employed include: electrodiagnostic testing, serum protein electrophoresis, nerve conduction studies, urinalysis, serum creatine kinase (CK) and antibody testing (nerve biopsy is sometimes done).

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