Peripheral Polyneuropathy
February 15th, 2021
Overview
Peripheral polyneuropathy presents with motor, sensory or mixed deficits affecting multiple (usually symmetrical) nerve distributions, without a clear pattern of involvement affecting a nerve root or peripheral nerve distribution.
Signs of Peripheral Polyneuropathy
- Lower motor neuron weakness affecting multiple nerve distributions
- Sensory loss affecting multiple nerve distributions
Causes of Peripheral Polyneuropathy
Primarily Sensory
- Diabetes mellitus
- Vitamin deficiency - B12, pyridoxine
- Hypothyroidism
- Sarcoidosis
- Paraneoplastic syndrome
- Vasculitis - rheumatoid arthritis, polyarteritis nodosa, SLE
- Protein-related - monoclonal gammopathy, amyloidosis, cryoglobulinaemia
- Infection - lyme disease, HIV neuropathy, leprosy
- Drugs - ethambutol, platinum-based chemotherapy, taxanes, vinca alkaloids
Primarily Motor
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
- Motor neurone disease
- Multifocal motor neuropathy with conduction block
- Polio
Sensorimotor
- Alcohol
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth
- Drugs - amiodarone, lithium, nitrofurantoin
- Toxins - heavy metals, organophosphates
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