Acute predominantly sensory neuropathy.
An account is given of an unusual patient with acute sensory neuropathy, leading within a few weeks to almost generalized sensory loss. Generalized sensory deficits were involved in the face, tongue, and palate. He had a drug allergy from chemotherapy during an early stage of illness. An albuminocytological dissociation of the cerebrospinal fluid was noted in a few months. A sural nerve biopsy after 2 months showed a marked reduction of fibers, and extensive invasion of phagocytes throughout the endoneurium. This patient recovered poorly with profound sensory ataxia of the limbs and tongue. A possible explanation for the clinico-pathological findings may be that acute idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis (Guillain-Barré syndrome) and toxic neuropathy exert an etiological role in the extramedullary sensory system.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001259:Ataxia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D009417:Nerve Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012677:Sensation