Peripheral Neuropathy

Found in some 2.5% of the population, with advancing age peripheral neuropathies occur in up to 8% of people and acute presentations remain diagnostic emergencies, for which neurophysiological tests distinguish axonal (multiple causes) from demyelinating pathology (commonly inflammatory and treatable).¹

Aetiology of peripheral neuropathy

Note that alcoholic and diabetic peripheral neuropathies are usually sensory.

1. Diabetes mellitus
2. Alcohol
3. Hidden malignancy
4. Connective Tissue disorder
   1. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
   2. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
5. Others
   1. Drugs
   2. Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS)
   3. Pernicious Anaemia

Reference

1. Hughes, Richard A C. “Peripheral neuropathy.” BMJ (Clinical research ed.) vol. 324,7335 (2002): 466-9. doi:10.1136/bmj.324.7335.466