Polyneuropathy Flashcards
What is a polyneuropathy?
Generalised disorder of peripheral nerve/cranial nerves
Affects sensory, motor and autonomic nerves and these can happen all at once
What is the pathology of a polyneuropathy?
Demyelination
OR
Axonal loss
OR
Both
What are the causes of mostly MOTOR polyneuropathies?
Guilliane-Barré
Lead poisoning
What are the causes of mostly SENSORY polyneuropathies?
Diabetes
Uraemia
What is a congenital cause of motor and sensory polyneuropathies?
Charcot Marie Tooth syndrome (charcots foot)
What are the symptoms of sensory polyneuropathy?
Numbness
Tingling
Burning
GLOVE STOCKING DISTRIBUTION
What are the symptoms of motor polyneuropathy?
Progressive
- Weakness
- Clumsiness
- Difficulty walking
- Possible resp difficulty
Bulbar weakness
- Dysphagia
- Dysarthria
What are the symptoms of autonomic polyneuropathy?
Postural hypotension
- Loss of ability to constrict blood vessels when standing
Signs of polyneuropathy?
!!!LMN SIGNS!!!
- Weakness
- Wasting
- Hyporeflexia
Glove stocking pattern again
Tests with polyneuropathy?
Full clinical exam
- LMN signs
- Loss of sensation
Bloods
- Particularly B12
- Tox screen
Treatment?
Treat the cause
- Foot care very important
Tests for suspected Guillain-Barré?
LP
- High protein
Treatment of Guillain-Barré?
Is self limiting so supportive
- Plasmaphoresis OR IV immunoglobulin
