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Polyneuropathy

 
Medical Dictionary: pol·y·neu·rop·a·thy
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(pŏl'ē-nʊ-rŏp'ə-thē, -nyʊ-)
n.

A generalized disorder of peripheral nerves.

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Veterinary Dictionary: polyneuropathy
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Home > Library > Animal Life > Veterinary Dictionary

A disease involving several nerves. See also neuropathy.

  • acute idiopathic p. — see idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis.
  • distal p. of Birman cats — a noninflammatory, diffuse loss of myelinated fibers in the distal portions of the central and peripheral nervous systems, resulting in progressive hindlimb ataxia and hypermetria in young Birman kittens. Believed to be inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.
  • familial p. — see Boxer progressive axonopathy, hereditary neuronal abiotrophy of Swedish Lapland dogs, giant axonal neuropathy.
  • hypoglycemic p. — associated with hyperinsulinism of β-cell insulinomas; there is generalized muscle weakness, paraparesis and tetraparesis.
  • hypothyroid p. — a progressive lower motor neuron disease associated with hypothyroidism.
  • idiopathic p. — see idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis.
  • immune-mediated p. — may occur in association with systemic lupus erythematosus in dogs.
Wikipedia: Polyneuropathy
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Polyneuropathy
Classification and external resources
ICD-10 G60.-G64.
ICD-9 356.4, 357.1-357.7
MeSH [1]

Polyneuropathy is a neurological disorder that occurs when many peripheral nerves throughout the body malfunction simultaneously. It may be acute and appear without warning, or chronic and develop gradually over a longer period of time. Many polyneuropathies have both motor and sensory involvement; some also involve dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. These disorders are often symmetric and frequently affect the feet and hands, causing weakness, loss of sensation, pins-and-needle sensations or burning pain.[1] There is a very large differential for polyneuropathy.

Contents

Evaluation

Evaluation and classification of polyneuropathies begins with a history and physical exam in order to document what the pattern of the disease process is (arms, legs, distal, proximal, symmetric), when they started, how long they've lasted, if they fluctuate, and what deficits and pain are involved. If pain is a factor, and it often is, determining where and how long the pain has been present is important.

One also needs to know what disorders are already present within the family and what diseases the patient may currently have. This is vital in forming a differential diagnosis.

Although often diseases are suggested by the physical exam and history alone, testing is still a large part of the diagnosis. Tests which may be employed include: electrodiagnostic testing using electromyography, muscle biopsy, serum creatine kinase (CK), antibody testing. Nerve biopsy is not used much, but is helpful in determining small fiber neuropathy. Other tests may be used, especially tests for specific disorders associated with polyneuropathies.

Causes

Acute polyneuropathy can have various causes, including infections, autoimmune reactions, toxins, certain drugs, and cancer.

Chronic polyneuropathy is often caused by diabetes mellitus or by the excessive use of alcohol, but a variety of other less common causes are known, including nutritional deficiencies, and liver or kidney failure.[1]

One Danish study in 2002 suggested a link between long term exposure to statins and increased risk of polyneuropathy,[2] although other studies have not confirmed this finding.

Treatment

If possible, treatment focuses on the underlying disease. Further, pain medications may be given and physical therapy is used to retain muscle function.

Differential

There is a large differential for polyneuropathies: vitamin deficiency, cancer, toxins, infections (ex. Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Lyme Disease), liver disease, endocrine disease (including diabetes with diabetic and pre-diabetic neuropathy), amyloidosis, genetic disorders, motor neuron disorders, motor neuropathies, kidney failure[3],paraneoplastic, polio, porphyria (some types), spinal muscular atrophy, catecholamine disorders, and many others. This is not a complete list.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Polyneuropathy, Merck Manual
  2. ^ D. Gaist, MD PhD; U. Jeppesen, MD PhD,; M. Andersen, MD PhD; L. A. García Rodríguez, MD MSc; J. Hallas, MD PhD; S. H. Sindrup, MD PhD (2002;58). "Statins and risk of polyneuropathy -- A case-control study" (in English). Neurology (Denmark: American Academy of Neurology): pp. 1333-1337. http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/58/9/1333. Retrieved 2009-10-06. 
  3. ^ Chronic renal failure, Medline Plus

External links

v • d • e
Nervous system pathology, PNS (G50-G64, 350-357)
Somatic
Nerve,
nerve root,
plexus
General
Polyneuropathies/
Polyradiculoneuropathy
Other
peripheral nervous system navs: anat/histo/physio/dev, noncongen PNS somatic/autonomic/congen/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc
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Copyrights:

Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Polyneuropathy".  Read more