EDITORIAL

Diagnosis

Criteria for the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathies

S H Horowitz

Division of Neurology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Prof. S H Horowitz, Division of Neurology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65212, USA;
horowitzs@health.missouri.edu

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Is there a "gold standard"?

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Keywords: peripheral neuropathy; diagnosis; polyneuropathy

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The diagnosis of a peripheral neuropathy is one of topographic localisation within the nervous system; not of aetiology. It is not a diagnosis in isolation as peripheral nerves are damaged consequent to some other condition, such as systemic exposure to exogenous agents in the environment and workplace. In subjects at risk, it is important to determine if and when peripheral nerves become affected, hopefully before clinical dysfunction and permanent damage occur. Many studies have employed clinical, electrophysiological, quantitative psychophysical sensory, and pathological procedures in the investigation of peripheral nerve disease. Their success has been less than optimal, mostly because of complexities in the peripheral nervous system and inherent procedural limitations.

Peripheral neuropathies can be divided into:

• Those which are bilaterally symmetrical—polyneuropathies (for example, most neurotoxins, diabetes mellitus)
  
• Those which are focal—mononeuropathies (nerve entrapment)
  
• Multiple mononeuropathies (vasculitidies, leprosy, multifocal motor).
  

Other subdivisions are based on the predominant site . . . [Full text of this article]

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