Demyelinating neuropathy and acute lymphocytic leukemia.
We report a 67-year-old man with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) who developed a rapidly progressive areflexic quadriparesis following chemotherapy. Electrophysiologic studies demonstrated an acute demyelinating polyneuropathy. Although peripheral nervous system dysfunction in ALL is often attributed to leukemic infiltration or chemotherapy, a diligent search with electrophysiologic evaluation should be considered and may suggest alternative diagnoses.
Gorson
K C
KC
Department of Neurology, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111.
Miller
K B
KB
Preston
D C
DC
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000368:Aged; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology