Contribution of nerve biopsy to unclassified neuropathy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic yield of nerve biopsy in patients with peripheral neuropathy of undetermined cause despite extensive diagnostic workup.


METHODS
From November 2001 through January 2004, 38 patients underwent nerve biopsy because of unclassified neuropathy.


RESULTS
The etiology of the neuropathies could be defined in 14 patients (37%), i.e. in 15% of chronic symmetric, 30% of chronic asymmetric, 50% of subacute symmetric and 62.5% of subacute asymmetric neuropathies. The biopsy was diagnostic in 6 patients (16%), where it showed a vasculitis, and supportive in 8 patients (21%).


CONCLUSIONS
The contribution of nerve biopsy to the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy was highest in acute and subacute asymmetric forms of neuropathy and lowest in chronic symmetric forms. The main indication for nerve biopsy remains the diagnosis of vasculitic neuropathy, a potentially treatable disorder.
Schweikert
Kathi
K
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. kaschweikert@uhbs.ch
Fuhr
Peter
P
Probst
Alphonse
A
Tolnay
Marcus
M
Renaud
Susanne
S
Steck
Andreas J
AJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*