Correlation of clinical and demyelinating features in patients with neuropathy of otherwise unknown etiology.
OBJECTIVE
To correlate the electrodiagnostic and clinical features of patients with demyelinating abnormalities and neuropathy of otherwise unknown etiology.


METHODS
We examined the records of patient with demyelinating abnormalities and no other cause for neuropathy that were evaluated in our electrophysiology laboratory over the course of a year, to correlate the clinical and electrodiagnostic features.


RESULTS
Eight percent of all patients had one or more demyelinating abnormalities. Demyelinating features were significantly more numerous in generalized or asymmetric neuropathy than in distal polyneuropathy. The peroneal nerve was the most commonly affected in all phenotypes, and none of the patients with distal neuropathy had F-wave prolongation in the demyelinating range.


CONCLUSIONS
The number and type of demyelinating abnormalities in patients with polyneuropathy vary with the clinical phenotype. The clinical presentation should be considered in developing or evaluating electrodiagnostic criteria for demyelinating neuropathies.
Goldfarb
Adina R
AR
The Peripheral Neuropathy Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, NYC, NY 10022 , USA.
Latov
N
N
Brannagan
T H
TH
Chin
R L
RL
de Sousa
E A
EA
Sander
H W
HW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010641:Phenotype; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results