Chronic polyneuropathies in Vest‐Agder, Norway

Abstract

Epidemiological data on chronic polyneuropathies, especially inflammatory types, is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the spectrum of causes and estimated prevalence of various polyneuropathy types in Vest-Agder, and to examine the clinical features of the Vest-Agder population of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). In Vest-Agder county (population of 155 464), polyneuropathy patients are registered in a database and followed prospectively. We did a measure of the database on October 31 1999. A total of 192 patients were registered. The prevalence for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) was 7.7 per 100 000 population. The course was relapsing in five of fifteen patients, progressive in four patients and slowly progressive in six of fifteen patients. Two of the fifteen patients had pure sensory symptoms. The mean Rankin disability score was 3.4 at maximal deficit and 2.1 at last follow-up. The prevalence of paraproteinemic polyneuropathy was 5.1 per 100 000 population. None of the patients with paraproteinemic polyneuropathy were worse than slightly disabled (disability score < or = 2). The prevalences for other polyneuropathies were as follows: polyneuropathy and RA, 1.3; polyneuropathy and Sjögren's syndrome or sicca complex, 4.5 (polyneuropathy was the presenting symptom in five of seven patients); sarcoidosis 1.9; polyneuropathy and chronic Lyme, 0.6; paraneoplastic polyneuropathy, 1.9; diabetic polyneuropathy 23.2; vitamin deficiency, 5.1; alcoholic and toxic polyneuropathy, 19.9; hereditary polyneuropathy, 14.8. Cryptogenic polyneuropathies made up 26% of all polyneuropathies. The mean disability score was 2.0 (SD 1.1). In conclusion, prevalence of CIDP was significantly higher than previously reported, and the prognosis was good in the majority of patients. Patients with paraproteinemic polyneuropathy were not severely disabled. Polyneuropathy was the presenting symptom in the majority of patients with Sjögren's syndrome or sicca complex.

Subcutaneous vs intravenous administration of immunoglobulin in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: an Italian cost-minimization analysis

“…Older age groups are more likely to have a chronic progressive course of CIDP, whereas a relapsing-remitting pattern is frequently observed in younger patients [3]. The crude prevalence rate of CIDP in different countries has been reported to range between 0.8 and 7.7 per 100,000 population [4][5][6], and falls in between these extremes (3.58 per 100,000 population) for two North-Western Italian Regions (Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta) [7].…”

Efficiency of alpha-lipoic acid and physical therapy in patients with diabetes polyuropathy

“…[9,10]. Perforantne ulceracije su česte, naročito kod senzornih polineuropatija sa sporim razvojem [11]. Intenzitet subjektivnih tegoba najveći je u mirovanju, naročito noću.…”

Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Lyme borreliosis

“…13 Where there is encephalo myelitis there are insufficient data to indicate that oral therapy is not inferior and therefore an intravenous regimen is preferred (see Table 2). 14,15 The outcome following treatment is variable with age, duration of symptoms and severity of meningeal inflammation all influencing recovery. Follow-up of 102 appropriately treated patients in Norway found that 70 per cent had complete resolution of signs four months after treatment, with the remainder showing improvement.…”