title: [Neuropathies due to vasculitis in infancy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vasculitis are characterised by the inflammatory infiltrate, chiefly of mononuclear cells, in the walls of the blood vessels, which can lead to occlusion with necrosis and the subsequent infarction of the affected tissue.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The Objective of this study was to determine the clinical, anatomicopathological and neurophysiological aspects of vasculitic neuropathies in infancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each patient was submitted to the following tests: a complete hemogram, systemic lupus erythematosus cells (LE cells), lupus anticoagulant, antinuclear antibodies, neutrophil anticytoplasmic antibodies, venereal disease research laboratory test (VDRL), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, liver transaminases, serological testing for hepatitis C, B and A, cytochemical study of the cerebrospinal fluid, study of motor and sensory conduction, electromyography and nuclear magnetic resonance, when required; a biopsy of the sural nerve was performed, which was replaced by a necropsy if the patient died.
  
  
  RESULTS
  15 patients from a total of 25 who were studied had vasculitic neuropathies; the most usual presentation was multiple mononeuropathy; aetiologies found included microscopic polyangiitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, JRA, overlap syndrome and several undetermined vasculitis. Of the patients who were submitted to a biopsy, 75% showed signs of vasculitis, which affected the small and medium sized vessels in 62.5% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of neuropathy in association with symptoms and signs of systemic involvement suggested the possibility of a neuropathy in the course of a vasculitis. The examination of biopsy specimens of the sural nerve is useful for the diagnosis and classification of the aetiology of vasculitis. Response to treatment with immunosuppressant drugs was good, both in the case of the neuropathy and of the underlying disease.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Arnaldo Milian Castro, Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba. renea@medscape.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moya Machado
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gómez Conde
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García Espinosa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molina Díaz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machado Rojas
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: González Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents