Peripheral sensorimotor and autonomic neuropathy associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Clinical, pathological and immunological features.
The clinical features and pathological findings in the sural nerves are described of 7 patients with peripheral neuropathy; in 4 cases the criteria for diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were satisfied and in 3 other cases there was serological evidence of an undifferentiated connective tissue disease, most probably SLE. The peripheral neuropathy was of a chronic sensorimotor type with predominantly sensory features and gradual onset. In 2 cases the presentation was asymmetric. One patient had autonomic dysfunction. The pathological findings in the biopsied sural nerves were those of axonal degeneration and vasculitis. In 6 nerves there was increased expression of Class II (Ia) antigen within the nerve fascicle, perineurium and within endothelial cells.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000098:blood supply / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000473:pathology