Sensory neuronopathy and autoimmune diseases.
Sensory neuronopathies (SNs) are a specific subgroup of peripheral nervous system diseases characterized by primary degeneration of dorsal root ganglia and their projections. Multifocal sensory symptoms often associated to ataxia are the classical features of SN. Several different etiologies have been described for SNs, but immune-mediated damage plays a key role in most cases. SN may herald the onset of some systemic autoimmune diseases, which further emphasizes how important the recognition of SN is in clinical practice. We have thus reviewed available clinical, neurophysiological, and therapeutic data on autoimmune disease-related SN, namely, in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis, and celiac disease.
Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), 13083-887 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Alberto R M
AR
Martinez
Marcelo B
MB
Nunes
Anamarli
A
Nucci
Marcondes C
MC
França