title: Diagnostic work-up in peripheral neuropathy: an analysis of 171 cases.
abstract: This study was set up to evaluate retrospectively the efficacy of a standard diagnostic procedure, including non-invasive and invasive (spinal tap, nerve/muscle biopsy) investigations, in the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy. The medical records of 171 in-patients with the final diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy of determined or undetermined cause were reviewed and each individual diagnostic work-up was analysed. Basic investigations included the patient's history, a clinical examination and basic laboratory tests. Depending on the individual presentation, course, and severity, further non-invasive and invasive examinations were added according to the department's standard diagnostic procedure. The aetiology could be clarified in 124 patients (73%) and remained unclear in 47 cases. Excluding cases with acute and chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy (n=14), the number of idiopathic peripheral neuropathies dropped to 33. Non-invasive investigations were sufficient to reveal the underlying aetiology in 114 cases (83 %). It is concluded that, with the application of a standard procedure for the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, the aetiology can be clarified in 81% of patients. In the other 19% of patients the aetiology remains idiopathic. In the majority of cases, non-invasive investigations were sufficient for diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Epilepsy and Neuromuscular Disorders, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lubec
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Müllbacher
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Finsterer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mamoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies