Peripheral Neuropathies Flashcards
What is peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is the dysfunction of one or more peripheral nerves (cranial and spinal nerves), leading to weakness, pain, or numbness in the affected areas.
What are the three main types of peripheral nerves?
Sensory nerves (control sensation), Motor nerves (control movement), and Autonomic nerves (control organ functions).
What are the main types of peripheral neuropathy?
Mononeuropathy, Mononeuropathy multiplex, and Polyneuropathy.
What is mononeuropathy?
Damage or dysfunction affecting a single peripheral nerve, often due to compression or trauma.
What is mononeuropathy multiplex?
Damage to two or more peripheral nerves in separate areas, often caused by systemic diseases like diabetes or vasculitis.
What is polyneuropathy?
A diffuse peripheral nerve disorder affecting multiple nerves, usually bilaterally and symmetrically.
What are the common causes of peripheral neuropathy?
Diabetes, infections, autoimmune diseases, toxins, vitamin deficiencies, and hereditary disorders.
What are common causes of mononeuropathy?
Compression (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome), trauma, infections, and inflammatory conditions.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Compression of the median nerve in the wrist, leading to numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand.
What is peroneal nerve palsy?
Compression of the peroneal nerve, causing foot drop and sensory deficits in the lower leg.
What is radial nerve palsy?
Also known as ‘Saturday night palsy,’ it causes wrist drop due to compression of the radial nerve.
What is ulnar nerve palsy?
Compression of the ulnar nerve, leading to weakness and numbness in the hand, often causing a ‘claw hand’ deformity.
What are the main clinical features of peripheral neuropathy?
Pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and loss of reflexes.
How is peripheral neuropathy diagnosed?
Clinical evaluation, electrodiagnostic tests (EMG/NCS), laboratory tests, and imaging studies.
What are electrodiagnostic tests used for neuropathy?
Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) to assess nerve function and classify neuropathy.
What laboratory tests are useful for diagnosing peripheral neuropathy?
Complete blood count, blood glucose, HbA1c, vitamin B12, thyroid function tests, and serum protein electrophoresis.
What are the treatment options for peripheral neuropathy?
Treat underlying causes, pain management, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications.
What medications are used for neuropathic pain?
Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline), anticonvulsants (gabapentin, pregabalin), and topical agents.
What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)?
An acute immune-mediated polyneuropathy causing rapidly progressive muscle weakness and paralysis.
What are the key features of Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
Ascending weakness, areflexia, autonomic dysfunction, and respiratory involvement in severe cases.
How is Guillain-Barré Syndrome treated?
Plasma exchange (plasmapheresis) or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).
What is chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)?
A chronic autoimmune demyelinating polyneuropathy with a slow, relapsing course.
What are the treatment options for CIDP?
Corticosteroids, IVIG, plasma exchange, and immunosuppressants.
What is diabetic neuropathy?
A common complication of diabetes affecting peripheral nerves, causing pain, numbness, and weakness.
What are the risk factors for diabetic neuropathy?
Poor glycemic control, long-standing diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and smoking.
What are the types of diabetic neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, proximal neuropathy, and focal neuropathy.
How is diabetic neuropathy managed?
Blood sugar control, pain management, foot care, and lifestyle modifications.
What is small fiber neuropathy?
A type of neuropathy affecting small sensory and autonomic fibers, causing burning pain and temperature sensitivity.
What are causes of small fiber neuropathy?
Diabetes, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, HIV, and vitamin B12 deficiency.
What is vasculitic neuropathy?
A neuropathy caused by blood vessel inflammation, leading to nerve ischemia and infarction.
What infections can cause peripheral neuropathy?
Leprosy, Lyme disease, HIV, hepatitis B and C, and diphtheria.
What is toxic neuropathy?
Peripheral nerve damage caused by exposure to toxins, including heavy metals, chemotherapy, and alcohol.
Which vitamin deficiencies can cause neuropathy?
Vitamin B1, B6, B12, E, and niacin deficiencies.
What are hereditary neuropathies?
Genetic disorders affecting peripheral nerves, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and hereditary sensory neuropathies.
What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease?
A hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy causing progressive weakness and foot deformities.
What is autonomic neuropathy?
A disorder affecting autonomic nerves, leading to dysfunction in blood pressure regulation, digestion, and sweating.
What are the symptoms of autonomic neuropathy?
Orthostatic hypotension, gastroparesis, bladder dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction.
What is the role of physical therapy in neuropathy?
Improves mobility, strengthens muscles, and reduces pain through exercises and assistive devices.
What lifestyle changes help manage peripheral neuropathy?
Regular exercise, smoking cessation, maintaining a healthy diet, and managing diabetes effectively.
What are the complications of untreated peripheral neuropathy?
Foot ulcers, infections, falls, autonomic dysfunction, and chronic pain.
What is axonal neuropathy?
A neuropathy caused by direct damage to nerve axons, often due to metabolic or toxic causes.
What is demyelinating neuropathy?
A neuropathy where the myelin sheath is damaged, leading to slow nerve conduction.
What is Wallerian degeneration?
A process where a nerve fiber degenerates after being severed or injured.
What is stocking-glove distribution in neuropathy?
A pattern of sensory loss in the feet and hands seen in polyneuropathy.
What is the first-line treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome?
Wrist splinting, NSAIDs, and corticosteroid injections.
When is surgery recommended for carpal tunnel syndrome?
In severe cases with persistent symptoms or significant nerve compression.
How is ulnar nerve entrapment treated?
Activity modification, splinting, physical therapy, and surgery in severe cases.
What is hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP)?
A genetic condition causing recurrent focal neuropathies due to increased nerve susceptibility to compression.
What tests can differentiate radiculopathy from mononeuropathy?
Electrodiagnostic studies like EMG/NCS and MRI of the spine.
What is amyloid neuropathy?
A neuropathy caused by amyloid protein deposition in peripheral nerves, often seen in multiple myeloma or hereditary amyloidosis.
What are red flags for peripheral neuropathy requiring urgent evaluation?
Rapid progression, autonomic dysfunction, asymmetric weakness, and severe pain.
What is peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is the dysfunction of one or more peripheral nerves (cranial and spinal nerves), leading to weakness, pain, or numbness in the affected areas.
What are the three main types of peripheral nerves?
Sensory nerves (control sensation), Motor nerves (control movement), and Autonomic nerves (control organ functions).
What are the main types of peripheral neuropathy?
Mononeuropathy, Mononeuropathy multiplex, and Polyneuropathy.
What is mononeuropathy?
Damage or dysfunction affecting a single peripheral nerve, often due to compression or trauma.
What is mononeuropathy multiplex?
Damage to two or more peripheral nerves in separate areas, often caused by systemic diseases like diabetes or vasculitis.
What is polyneuropathy?
A diffuse peripheral nerve disorder affecting multiple nerves, usually bilaterally and symmetrically.
What are the common causes of peripheral neuropathy?
Diabetes, infections, autoimmune diseases, toxins, vitamin deficiencies, and hereditary disorders.
What are common causes of mononeuropathy?
Compression (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome), trauma, infections, and inflammatory conditions.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Compression of the median nerve in the wrist, leading to numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand.
What is peroneal nerve palsy?
Compression of the peroneal nerve, causing foot drop and sensory deficits in the lower leg.
What is radial nerve palsy?
Also known as ‘Saturday night palsy,’ it causes wrist drop due to compression of the radial nerve.
What is ulnar nerve palsy?
Compression of the ulnar nerve, leading to weakness and numbness in the hand, often causing a ‘claw hand’ deformity.
What are the main clinical features of peripheral neuropathy?
Pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and loss of reflexes.
How is peripheral neuropathy diagnosed?
Clinical evaluation, electrodiagnostic tests (EMG/NCS), laboratory tests, and imaging studies.
What are electrodiagnostic tests used for neuropathy?
Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) to assess nerve function and classify neuropathy.
What laboratory tests are useful for diagnosing peripheral neuropathy?
Complete blood count, blood glucose, HbA1c, vitamin B12, thyroid function tests, and serum protein electrophoresis.
What are the treatment options for peripheral neuropathy?
Treat underlying causes, pain management, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications.
What medications are used for neuropathic pain?
Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline), anticonvulsants (gabapentin, pregabalin), and topical agents.
What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)?
An acute immune-mediated polyneuropathy causing rapidly progressive muscle weakness and paralysis.
What are the key features of Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
Ascending weakness, areflexia, autonomic dysfunction, and respiratory involvement in severe cases.
How is Guillain-Barré Syndrome treated?
Plasma exchange (plasmapheresis) or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).
What is chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)?
A chronic autoimmune demyelinating polyneuropathy with a slow, relapsing course.
What are the treatment options for CIDP?
Corticosteroids, IVIG, plasma exchange, and immunosuppressants.
What is diabetic neuropathy?
A common complication of diabetes affecting peripheral nerves, causing pain, numbness, and weakness.
What are the risk factors for diabetic neuropathy?
Poor glycemic control, long-standing diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and smoking.
What are the types of diabetic neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, proximal neuropathy, and focal neuropathy.
How is diabetic neuropathy managed?
Blood sugar control, pain management, foot care, and lifestyle modifications.
What is small fiber neuropathy?
A type of neuropathy affecting small sensory and autonomic fibers, causing burning pain and temperature sensitivity.
What are causes of small fiber neuropathy?
Diabetes, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, HIV, and vitamin B12 deficiency.
What is vasculitic neuropathy?
A neuropathy caused by blood vessel inflammation, leading to nerve ischemia and infarction.
What infections can cause peripheral neuropathy?
Leprosy, Lyme disease, HIV, hepatitis B and C, and diphtheria.
What is toxic neuropathy?
Peripheral nerve damage caused by exposure to toxins, including heavy metals, chemotherapy, and alcohol.
Which vitamin deficiencies can cause neuropathy?
Vitamin B1, B6, B12, E, and niacin deficiencies.
What are hereditary neuropathies?
Genetic disorders affecting peripheral nerves, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and hereditary sensory neuropathies.
What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease?
A hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy causing progressive weakness and foot deformities.
What is autonomic neuropathy?
A disorder affecting autonomic nerves, leading to dysfunction in blood pressure regulation, digestion, and sweating.
What are the symptoms of autonomic neuropathy?
Orthostatic hypotension, gastroparesis, bladder dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction.
What is the role of physical therapy in neuropathy?
Improves mobility, strengthens muscles, and reduces pain through exercises and assistive devices.
What lifestyle changes help manage peripheral neuropathy?
Regular exercise, smoking cessation, maintaining a healthy diet, and managing diabetes effectively.
What are the complications of untreated peripheral neuropathy?
Foot ulcers, infections, falls, autonomic dysfunction, and chronic pain.
What is axonal neuropathy?
A neuropathy caused by direct damage to nerve axons, often due to metabolic or toxic causes.
What is demyelinating neuropathy?
A neuropathy where the myelin sheath is damaged, leading to slow nerve conduction.
What is Wallerian degeneration?
A process where a nerve fiber degenerates after being severed or injured.
What is stocking-glove distribution in neuropathy?
A pattern of sensory loss in the feet and hands seen in polyneuropathy.
What is the first-line treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome?
Wrist splinting, NSAIDs, and corticosteroid injections.
When is surgery recommended for carpal tunnel syndrome?
In severe cases with persistent symptoms or significant nerve compression.
How is ulnar nerve entrapment treated?
Activity modification, splinting, physical therapy, and surgery in severe cases.
What is hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP)?
A genetic condition causing recurrent focal neuropathies due to increased nerve susceptibility to compression.
What tests can differentiate radiculopathy from mononeuropathy?
Electrodiagnostic studies like EMG/NCS and MRI of the spine.
What is amyloid neuropathy?
A neuropathy caused by amyloid protein deposition in peripheral nerves, often seen in multiple myeloma or hereditary amyloidosis.
What are red flags for peripheral neuropathy requiring urgent evaluation?
Rapid progression, autonomic dysfunction, asymmetric weakness, and severe pain.
