PMID: 9528017Apr 7, 1998Paper

Clinical characteristics of Cuban epidemic neuropathy

Revista de neurologia
N Gómez-VieraE Rivero-Arias

Abstract

At the beginning of 1992 an epidemic neuropathy was seen in Cuba. To determine the clinical characteristics we studied the clinical and neurological features, cerebrospinal fluid, and did neurophysiological investigations and sural nerve biopsies. Sixty patients were studied. Of these, 42 (70%) had polyneuropathy which was predominantly peripheral and 18 (30%) had combined forms. Most patients had asthenia and weight loss. The polyneuropathic effects were mainly in the legs. In 33.3% of the patients there were distal autonomic effects and sphincter disorders. Only 7 patients had hypoacusia. However, subclinical neurosensorial hypoacusia was seen in 33.3%. Optic neuropathy affected central vision bilaterally and symmetrically with temporal pallor of the papilla in half the cases. In 3 patients there was loss of ganglionar nerve fibres of the papillo-macula bundle. The contrast sensitivity visual test was abnormal in some patients with peripheral polyneuropathy, showing subclinical optic neuropathy in these cases. Sensory neuroconduction suggested axonal neuropathy in 30 patients, demyelinating neuropathy in 5 patients, while the remainder were normal. Motor neuroconduction was normal in most patients. Sural nerve biopsy of 27 pa...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Axonal Neuropathies

Axonal Neuropathy refers to disease or dysfunction of nerves caused as a result of damage or degeneration of axons. Here is the latest research.

CSF & Lymphatic System

This feed focuses on Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) and the lymphatic system. Discover the latest papers using imaging techniques to track CSF outflow into the lymphatic system in animal models.

Related Papers

Journal of Neuro-ophthalmology : the Official Journal of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society
D R Johns, A Sadun
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved