title: Chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy associated with eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome.
abstract: Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) is a newly described syndrome associated with use of L-tryptophan. A neuropathy with features of axonal degeneration has also been described in conjunction with EMS. Demyelinating polyneuropathy is not a well recognised association of the syndrome. The two patients with EMS reported presented with profound weakness and sensory loss and were found to have clinical, electrophysiological and pathological evidence of a chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy. The concurrence of this neuropathy with EMS, as well as several other features of their illness, is suggestive of an immune mediated mechanism in the pathophysiology of EMS.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA 21205.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Freimer
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Glass
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chaudhry
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Tyor
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Cornblath
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kuncl
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001416:Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001706:Biopsy; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016603:Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014364:Tryptophan