November 1998--70 year old woman with SLE, paraproteinemia and polyneuropathy.
A 70 year old woman developed a sensory-motor polyneuropathy 12 years after almost continuous treatment with hydrochloroquine for SLE. Sural nerve biopsy disclosed abundant lipid inclusions in schwann cells and vessels against a background of axonal degeneration. After cessation of therapy the patient improved moderately. This case underscores the usefulness of nerve biopsy in the study of management of patients with peripheral neuropathy associated with systemic illnesses.
Bilbao
J M
JM
University of Toronto, Department of Laboratory Medicine (Pathology), Ontario, Canada.
D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001706:Biopsy; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D002738:Chloroquine