Severe axonal polyneuropathy with onset in the postpartum period.
We report two patients who presented severe polyneuropathy in the postpartum period. Electrophysiological studies evidenced an axonal process which was associated with proximal demyelination in the second patient. In both cases, a peripheral nerve biopsy showed severe axonal Wallerian-like degeneration and no feature of demyelination. The first patient had a dramatic loss of myelinated fibres, and severe disability persisted for several months. These two patients are different from cases of acute or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy previously reported in relation with pregnancy.
Vital
A
A
Department of Neuropathology, Bordeaux II University, France.
Larrivière
M
M
Lagueny
A
A
Ellie
E
E
Ferrer
X
X
Dupon
M
M
Barat
M
M
Mazaux
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006644:Histiocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000473:pathology; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000473:pathology; D014855:Wallerian Degeneration / Q000502:physiology