title: Vasculitic neuropathies.
abstract: The vasculitic neuropathies are a diverse group of disorders characterised by the acute-to-subacute onset of painful sensory and motor deficits that result from inflammatory destruction of nerve blood vessels and subsequent ischaemic injury. They are common in patients with primary systemic vasculitis and are seen in vasculitis secondary to disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, viral infections, and diabetic inflammatory neuropathies. It is imperative that neurologists recognise these disorders to initiate treatment promptly and thereby prevent morbidity and mortality. To simplify the approach to patients with vasculitis of the peripheral nerves, a straightforward, dichotomous classification scheme can be used in which the vasculitic neuropathies are divided into two groups-nerve large arteriole vasculitis and nerve microvasculitis-on the basis of the size of the involved vessels. The size of the affected blood vessels correlates with the clinical course and prognosis in patients with vasculitic neuropathy.
authors: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors: Kelly Graham
authors: KG
authors: Gwathmey
authors: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors: Ted Michael
authors: TM
authors: Burns
authors: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors: Michael Paul
authors: MP
authors: Collins
authors: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address: dyck.pjames@mayo.edu.
authors: P James Bonham
authors: PJ
authors: Dyck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*