A. Overview
- Classification of Syndromes
- Focal Neuropathies: mononeuropathy and mononeuritis multiplex
- Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy
- Motor (predominantly) Polyneuropathy
- Sensory (predominantly) Polyneuropathy
- Autonomic Neuropathy
- Etiologies [11]
- Metabolic
- Toxins and Medications
- Immune Mediated: autoimmune and vasculitis-associated
- Vascular: atheroscelerotic and vasculitis-associated
- Infectious: such as syphilis, leprosy
- Paraneoplastic Syndromes: anti-Hu antibody related
- Entrapment (compression)
- Amyloidosis
- Paraproteinemia: CIDP, myeloma, POEMS, monoclonal gammopathy
- Renal failure
- Heritable / Familial
- Idiopathic (small fiber neuropathy)
- Epidemiology [2]
- Overall prevalence ~2.4%
- Prevalence in age >55 years ~8%
- Most common cause in developed nations is diabetic neuropathy
- Immune mediated neuropathies are second most common cause
- Leprosy is an important cause in underdeveloped nations
B. Classification and Pathophysiology
- Nerve Fibers Transmitting Pain
- Type C nerve fibers appear to be major carriers of nociceptive signals
- Type A delta2 nerve fibers detect heat/cold and other noxious stimuli
- These fibers carry nociceptive information from visceral and somatic sites
- Under conditions of C fiber damage, A delta2 fibers can transmit pain information [19]
- Larger nerve fibers (Aß and A-alpha) responsible for proprioception, vibratory sensation, muscle-stretch reflexes and muscle strength may also be affected in pain
- Types of Peripheral Nerve Damage
- Axonal Degeneration: usually toxic, vascular, metabolic
- Demyelination: usually immune/inflammatory
- Types of Peripheral Neuropathy
- Mononeuropathy
- Mononeuropathy (mononeuritis) Multiplex
- Polyneuropathy
- Mononeuropathy
- Focal lesion of single peripheral nerve
- usually caused by trauma, focal compression, nerve entrapment
- Carpal tunnel syndrome is most common mononeuropathy
- Ulnar neuropathy due to compression at or near elbow is second most common
- Electrodiagonistic studies required for accurate diagnosis
- Main concern is missing diagnosis of mononeuropathy multiplex
- Mononeuropathy Multiplex [2,18]
- Previously called mononeuritis multiplex (see below)
- Involvement of multiple separate noncontiguous peripheral nerves
- Multiple nerves may be involved serially or concurrently
- Over time, multiple nerve invovement may lead to confluent apparent polyneuropathy
- History of lesions over time is critical to distinguish from polyneuropathy
- Biopsy of sural or superficial peroneal sensory nerve (with muscle) should be performed
- Up to 30% of patients have findings of multifocal demyelination usually due to chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
- Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies associated with deletion of PMP22 gene well described
- Polyneuropathy
- Most commonly distal symmetrical polyneuropathy
- Nerve fibers are affected in length-dependent fashion
- May be primarily sensory, motor, or mixed sensorimotor neuorpathy
- Usually due to toxins
C. Evaluation
- Overview
- History and careful physical examination - compatible with neuropathy ?
- Small fiber neuropathy has pain out of proportion to neurologic findings
- As larger fibers are involved, neurologic exam findings increase
- Laboratory studies are critical unless cause of neuropathy is clearly known
- Clinical Classification of Type of Neuropathy
- Mononeuropathy, Mononeuropathy (mononeuritis) Multiplex, Polyneuropathy
- Electrodiagnostic studies are required to confirm classification of neuropathy
- Distinguishing axonal from demyelinating neuropathies also requires electrodiagnostics
- Laboratory Evaluations
- Screening with serum or urine as needed
- Focused on nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG)
- Nerve biopsy (such as sural nerve) may be required
- EMG and NCS are normal in small fiber neuropathies
- Abnormal EMG/NCS can distinguish demyelinating versus axonal neuropathy
- Can also distinguish multiple mononeuropathy versus polyneuropathy
- Focus laboratory evaluations based on EMG/NCS results and differential (see below)
- Grading Peripheral Neuropathy
- Grade 1
- Grade 2
- Grade 3
- Grade 4
- Radicular (Nerve Root) Disease usually considered separately (see below)
D. Chronological Categorization of Diseases
- Acute Onset Monophasic (days)
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Porphyric Neuropathy
- Diphtheria associated polyneuropathy
- Tick paralysis, vasculitis, paraneopastic neuropathy less common
- Subacute Onset (weeks)
- Many toxins
- Nutritional neuropathies
- Carcinomatous neuropathy
- Uremic neuropathy
- Relapsing
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
- Refsum's Disease
- Chronic (months-years)
- Diabetic
- Chronic inflammatory
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth (hereditary sensorimotor neuorpathies)
E. Focal Neuropathies
- Nerve Entrapment Syndromes
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Ulnar Nerve Palsy (Cubital Tunnel Syndrome)
- Brachial Plexus Lesions
- Radial Nerve Syndrome
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Meralgia Paresthetica - lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy
- Morton's Neuroma
- Mononeuritis Multiplex [18]
- Vascular, infectious, paraproteinemia most common etiologies
- Vasculitis very common cause and requires prompt treatment to prevent damage
- Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), Churg-Strauss Syndrome commonly cause neuropathy
- Vasculitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren Syndrome also associated with peripheral neuropathy
- Less commonly sarcoidosis, lymphoma, cryglobulinemia, amyloidosis, leprosy, Lyme Disease
- HIV mononeuropathy multiplex well described
- Cholesterol Emboli Syndrome
- Central Nervous System Disease causing focal deficits
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Central nervous system vasculitis
- Syringomyelia
- Radiculopathy (usually compression syndromes)
- Cervical
- Lumbar
- Usually due to bone abnormalities in spine or vertebral disc disease
F. Sensorimotor Polyneuropathies (Generalized)
- Alcoholic Neuropathy
- Diabetic Neuropathy (see below)
- Nutritional Deficiency: Vitamin B12 Deficiency [10]
- Toxin Neuropathy (see below)
- Metabolic Disorder
- Inflammatory Neuropathies (see below)
- Critical Illness Polyneuropathy - likely nutritional/metabolic/toxin components
G. Inflammatory Neuropathies
- Demyelinating
- Acute - Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS)
- CIDP - often associated with monoclonal gammopathies
- Paraproteinemia - usually IgM
- Hereditary - mainly variants of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (PMP22 gene duplication)
- Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is critically important in all of these
- Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
- Most common type of acquired demyelinating polyneuropathy
- Rate ~2/100,000 persons
- Either relapsing or gradually progressive
- CSF examination can be helpful; shows raise protein level
- Responds to plasma exchange, IVIg, glucocorticoids
- Multifocal Motor Neuropathy
- Weakness and muscular atrophy
- Conduction block in lower motor neurons may be subtle or only present in distal neurons
- Demyelinating neuropathy
- Responds to IVIg usually given monthly until response is seen
- If response is suboptimal, add oral cyclophosphamide (~1.5mg/kg once daily)
- improvements may take years
- Worsens with glucocorticoids
- Infection
- Varicella Zoster
- Poliomyelitis
- Leprosy
- Syphilis
- Lyme Disease
- Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV1) - particularly associated with Bell's palsy (see below)
- Autoimmune Etiology
- Polyarteritis Nodosa
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Other Vasculitis
- Gammopathy and Neuropathy [11]
- Paraproteinemias are frequently associated with chronic progressive neuropathies
- Direct toxicity of immunoglobulin deposition on neurons may occur
- Amyloid deposition may also contribute
- Focal and Diffuse Myeloma
- Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
- Amyloidosis
- Cryoglobulinemias
- Lymphoma
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Giant Lymph Node Hyperplasia
H. Predominantly Motor Neuropathies
- Guillain-Barre Sydnrome and CIPD (see above)
- Acute intermittant porphyria
- Lead neuropathy
- Heritable motor-sensory neuropathies
- Motor Neuron Disease (neuronopathy)
- ALS
- Infantile Motor Neuron Diseases
- Poliomyelitis and Postpolio Syndrome
- Autoimmune Syndromes
- Bell's Palsy (see below)
I. Bell's Palsy [4,22]
- Acute, idiopathic unilateral paralysis of Cranial Nerve (CN) VII (Facial Nerve)
- Affects ~25 persons per 100,000 per year, usually ages 30-45
- Associations
- Herpes zoster or herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections
- HSV-1 DNA is found in ~80% of facial nerve endoneural fluid in Bell's Palsy [22]
- Less commonly associated with various tumors, sarcoidosis, HIV, vasculitis
- Guillian-Barre Syndrome usually with bilateral and symmetrical CNVII palsy
- Symptoms
- Face pulled to one side due to weakness (loss of CN VII control of facial muscles)
- Most other causes of Bell's palsy are associated with unilateral facial weakness
- Hyperacusis may also occur due to paralysis of stapedius muscle
- Most patients recover well, but ~30% have poor recovery
- ~82% of persons have near normal function at 9 months without any therapy [5]
- Facial disfigurement, facial pain, psychological difficulties found with incomplete recovery
- MRI can show inflammatory changes surrouding CN VII
- Treatment [4,5]
- Initiate within 3 days of symptoms, as soon as possible
- Glucocorticoids and/or antiviral (anti-HSV) agents are used
- Prednisone 1mg/kg/day or prednisolone 25mg bid (both oral) x 10 days
- Prednisolone had 83% with complete function versus 64% with placebo at 3 months
- Prednisolone had ~94% complete recovery at 9 months (82% for placebo)
- Acyclovir 400mg given five times (5X) daily x 10 days of no benefit versus placebo
- Acyclovir added to prednisolone was no better than prednisolone alone
- In more severe disease, valacyclovir was more effective than placebo [6]
- Either valacyclovir (1gm bid) or famciclovir (750mg tid) for 7-10 days recommended in addition to glucocorticoids for sevre disease
- Surgical decompression is used in some cases, within 14 days of onset
J. Predominantly Sensory Polyneuropathies [1]
- Symptoms of Neuropathic Pain (smaller fibers)
- Burning - area "on fire"
- Sharp pain - knife-like, jabbing, and/or pins and needles
- Shooting pain
- Aching in distal extremities
- EMG/NCS typically normal
- Symptoms of Peripheral Nerve Pain (larger fibers)
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Feeling wooden or dead
- Often exacerbated at night
- EMG/NCS are abnormal
- Global Loss of Sensory Inputs
- Diabetic polyneuropathy (see below)
- Dysproteinemias: Monoclonal gammopathies, paraproteinemias, cryoglobulinemia
- Tabes dorsalis
- Primary Loss of Pain and Thermal Sensibility
- Small fiber losses
- Diabetic polyneuropathy (see below)
- Amyloid Deposition
- Hereditary sensory neuropathies
- Lepromatous leprosy
- Ataxic Neuropathies
- Primary loss of joint position and vibration sensation
- Carcinomatous sensory neuroapthy
- Sjogren Syndrome
- Chemotherapeutic Agents: cisplatin
- Metronidazole
- Vitamin B6 overdose
- Friedreich's Ataxia
- Sensory abnormalities may predominate in neuropathy with paraproteinemias
- Normal EMG/NCS
- Idiopathic small fiber painful sensory neuropathy [21]
- Fabry's Disease
- Celiac Disease (may show abnormal EMG/NCS)
- Abnormal EMG/NCS
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
- Inherited neuropathies
- Connective tissue disease
- Peripheral neurve vasculitis
- Dysproteinemia
- Paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy
- Familial and acquired amyloid polyneuropathy
- Neuropathy with renal disease
- Hereditary sensory autonomic neuropathy
- Sarcoid polyneuropathy
- Arsenic neuropathy
- HIV related neuropathy
- Treatment Overview
- Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA): nortriptyline, amitriptyline, imipramine
- Other antidepressants have some activity, not as effective as TCA
- Anticonvulsants: carbamazepine, phenytoin, gabapentin
- Gabapentin (Neurontin®) is about as effective as TCA and better tolerated
- Mexilitine for painful diabetic neuropathy has been variably effective
- Topical capsaicin has had some benefit
K. Diabetic Neuropathy
- Complex interplay of multiple etiologic mechanisms
- Metabolic and vascular abnormalities
- Hypertension increases progression of neuropathy
- Improved glycemic control associated with reduction in progression of neuropathy
- Improvement in other vascular risk factors also reduces diabetic neuropathy [8]
- Proliferative microvascular disease is likely a major contributor
- Increased capillary leakage and arteriovenous shunting also play a role
- Basement membrane thickening (glycated biomolecules) also found
- Types
- Rapidly reversible hyperglycemic neuropathy
- Distal Symmetric Sensory Neuropathy
- Mononeuropathy (multiplex)
- Autonomic neuropathy (common)
- Subacute Proximal Neuropathy (uncommon)
- Distal Symmetric Sensory Neuropathy
- Predominantly affects sensory and autonomic function
- Most common type of diabetic neuropathy
- Distal axonopathy of dying-back type is most likely pathology
- Mononeuropathy
- Cranial, thoraco-abdominal, and limb neuropathies
- Proximal lower limb motor neuropathy (diabetic amyotrophy) can occur
- Local vascular insufficiency with nerve ischemia is most likely underlying problem
- Focal inflammatory and vasculitic pathologies may occur
- Diabetic Amyotrophy
- Acute, monophasic, painful lower limb weakness and areflexia
- Minimal sensory loss
- Axonal destruction
- Subacute Diabetic Proximal Neuropathy
- Proximal muscle weakness associated with reduced or absent lower extremity reflexes
- Axonal degeneration and some demyelination on NCS and biopsy
- Autonomic failure is commonly found
- Sural nerve biopsy shows demyelination; less commonly inflammation
- CSF protein is typically increased
- Active treatments were sometimes used (similar to CIDP)
- Disease frequently self-limiting
- This entity may be severe variant of bilateral lumbosacral radiculoplexopathy
- Pathology [20]
- Small caliber sensory neurons (type C and A delta) are primarily affected
- Damage to skin sensory neurons occurs very early with insulin resistance
- Abnormal oral glucose tolerance test may be most sensitive to detect early disease
- Skin biopsy with special neuronal stains show early and marked loss of small caliber neurons
- Cardiovascular risk factors (in addition to diabetes) contribute to neuropathy [8]
- Screening for Peripheral Neuropathy [7]
- Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWM) test for protective sensation on dorsum of foot
- SWM 5.07 consists of plastic handle supporting nylon filament
- Filament is placed perpendicular to skin and pressure applied until filament buckles
- Hold filament in place for ~1 second, then release
- Inability to perceive this ~1gm force indicates clinically significant large fiber neuropathy
- Testing 10 sites with SWM on the foot may improve sensitivity and specificity
- Treatment
- Tight glucose control prevents progression of neuropathy
- ACE inhibitor trandolapril showed improvement in NCS/EMG studies in type 1 DM [16]
- Intensive therapy with various ACE-I + Vitamin E + Vitamin C in Type II DM with microalbuminuria reduced progression of neuropathy >60% over three years [17]
- Axonal regeneration of sensory fibers has not yet been demonstrated in progressive DM
- Urinary Retention - often responds to cholinergic agents such as bethanechol
- Fecal Incontinence
- Types of Agents for Painful Diabetic Neuropathy [13]
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta®)
- Pregabalin (Lyrica®)
- Gabapentin (Neurontin®) - approved for post-herpetic neuralgia; often effective
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) - amitryptilline and others; sedating, arrhythmogenic
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol®) - antiseizure agent, effective in some patients
- Capsaicin cream (0.075%, Zostrix®) for 8 weeks sometimes relieves painful neuropathy
- Liodcaine Patch (Lidoderm®)
- Opioids
- Mexilitine is effective but not often used
- Number needed to treat (NNT) 3-5 for at least moderate (>50%) pain reduction [13]
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta®) [23]
- Approved (60mg qd po; up to 60mg po bid) for diabetic neuropathic pain
- Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)
- Also approved for depression
- ~50% of patients had >50% reduction in pain in 24 hours and reduction in other pain drugs
- Open label extension showed efficacy out to 52 weeks
- Nausea (22%), dizziness (14%), somnolence (15%), consiptation (11%) main side effects
- Erectile dysfunction occurs in some patients
- Abrupt withdrawal leads to irritability, headache, vomiting, insomnia
- Pregabalin (Lyrica®) [24]
- Structural analog of GABA and gabapentin
- Approved for postherpetic neuralgia and diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain
- Also approved for epilepsy
- Initial dose is 150mg per day divided 2-3 times (bid or tid)
- May increase to maximum of 300mg per day for neuropathic pain, 600mg/d for epilepsy
- Adverse effects are dose related: dizziness, somnolence, blurred vision
- Associated with euphoria and Schedule V controlled substance by FDA
- Gabapentin (Neurontin®) [14,15]
- FDA approved for post-herpetic neuralgia and for seizure treatment
- Various effects on brain neurotransmitters
- Dose: 900-3600 mg qd divided (2-3 times)
- Combination with morphine more effective than either alone in severe painful neuropathy [3]
- Generally well tolerated with very good efficacy in diabetic pain reduction
- Side effects: diziness, somnolence, confusion (all <8%)
- Mexilitine
- Anti-arrhythmic agent (Type 1B) fairly effective for painful diabetic neuropathy
- Dose: 75-150mg po tid
- Contraindicated in long QTc, cardiac arrhythmias
- Side effects include confusion, fatigue, nausea
- Gastroparesis
- Consider tegaseride (Zelnorm®) which has some promotility activity (marketing restricted)
- Also responds to erythromycin 750mg po qd (inexpensive but poorly tolerated)
- Propulsid (Cisapride®) has been withdrawn from marketing but may be available for specific patients
- Failed Therapies
- Gangliosides
- Gamma-linolenic acid
- Acetyl-L-carnitine (levocarnitine)
- Antioxidants
- Tolrestat (Alredase®) has been withdrawn from the market
L. Toxin (Drug) Associated Neuropathies
- Amiodarone
- Thalidomide
- Didanosine, Stavudine (d4T), DDC
- Chemotherapeutic Agents (see below)
- Dapsone
- Disulfiram
- Gold Salts
- Isoniazid
- Metronidazole
- Phenytoin (Dilantin)
- Suramin
M. Chemotherapy Associated Peripheral Neuropathy
- Vinca Alkyloids - vincristine (less so with vinblastine)
- Paclitaxel (Taxol®)
- Topoisomerase Inhibitors
- Etoposide
- Etanidazole
- Carboplatin
- High Dose Cytosine Arabinoside (HiDAC)
- Thalidomide (Thalomid®)
- Bortezomib (Velcade®)
- Bone Marrow Transplantation - may be severe; multiple causes
N. HIV Peripheral Polyneuropathy
- Mononeuritis Multiplex (CD4>500/µL or <50/µL)
- Distal Symmetrical Polyneuropathy
- Similar to diabetic sensory neuropathy
- EMG shows distal axonopathy
- Analgesics, tricyclic agents, anticonvulsants and capsaicin may be effective
- Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP related)
- CD4<50 or >500/µL
- Often associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) abnormalities
- Responses to glucocorticoids, plasmapheresis, intravenous Ig reported
- Non-inflammatory Neuropathy, Sensorimotor (early and late) Disease
- Autonomic Nervous System
- CMV Polyradiculopathy (Cauda equina syndrome)
- Patients with CMV infection in cauda equina region
- All symptoms of cauda equina destruction may occur
- Includes pain, lower extremity weakness, and incontinence
- Treatment: Foscarnet or Ganciclovir or both
- Neither amitriptyline nor acupuncture were effective against pain for this syndrome [12]
O. Other Systemic Diseases
- Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
- Uremic Neuropathy
- Thyroid Disease
- Mainly hypothyroidism causing carpal tunnel syndrome
- Hypothyroidism also increases peripheral nerve symptoms from other causes
- Acromegaly
- Usually due to pituitary adenoma
- Nerve entrapment syndromes, particularly carpal tunnel syndrome
P. Radicular (Nerve Root) Disease
- Nerve roots pass through thecal sac to neural foramina
- Narrowing of the neural foramina can lead to root dysfunction
- Bone spurs, disk prolapse or herniation are the most common causes of radiculopathy
- Weakness and pain are the most common presenting symptoms
- Commonly Affected Regions and Weakness
- Cervical C5, C6, and C7
- Lumbar L4 and L5
- Sacral S1
- Sites of Weakness
- C5: shoulder abduction
- C6: elbow flexion
- C7: elbow extension, wrist flexion and extension, and hand grip
- C8: hand grip, hand intrinsic muscles
- L2-3: hip flexion
- L5-S1: hip extension and ankle plantar flexion
- L3-4: knee extension
- L4-5: knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion
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