Peripheral polyneuropathy from electrodiagnostic tests: a 10-year etiology and neurophysiology overview

ABSTRACT

Background: Polyneuropathies are characterized by a symmetrical impairment of the peripheral nervous system, resulting in sensory, motor and/or autonomic deficits. Due to the heterogeneity of causes, an etiological diagnosis for polyneuropathy is challenging. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the main causes of polyneuropathy confirmed by electrodiagnostic (EDX) tests in a tertiary service and its neurophysiological aspects. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study from a neuromuscular disorders center included individuals whose electrodiagnostic tests performed between 2008 and 2017 confirmed a diagnosis of polyneuropathy. Through analysis of medical records, polyneuropathies were classified according to etiology and neurophysiological aspect. Results: Of the 380 included patients, 59.5% were male, with a median age of 43 years. The main etiologies were: inflammatory (23.7%), hereditary (18.9%), idiopathic (13.7%), multifactorial (11.1%), and diabetes (10.8%). The main electrophysiological patterns were axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathy (36.1%) and “demyelinating and axonal” sensorimotor polyneuropathy (27.9%). Axonal patterns showed greater etiological heterogeneity, with a predominance of idiopathic and multifactorial polyneuropathy, while demyelinating and “demyelinating and axonal” polyneuropathies had a significantly fewer etiologies, with a predominance of hereditary and inflammatory polyneuropathies.

Conclusion: The main causes of polyneuropathy confirmed by EDX test in this study were those that presented a severe, atypical and/or rapidly progressing pattern. Other causes were hereditary and those that defy clinical reasoning, such as multiple risk factors; some polyneuropathies did not have a specific etiology. EDX tests are useful for etiological diagnosis of rare polyneuropathies, because neurophysiological patterns are correlated with specific etiologies.

RESUMO

Antecedentes: As polineuropatias caracterizam-se por um acometimento simétrico do sistema nervoso periférico, resultando em alterações sensitivas, motoras e/ou autonômicas. Devido à heterogeneidade de causas, estabelecer um diagnóstico etiológico para polineuropatia é desafiador. Objetivo: O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar as principais causas de polineuropatia confirmada pela eletroneuromiografia em um serviço terciário e seus aspectos neurofisiológicos. Métodos: Esse estudo transversal observacional de um centro de doenças neuromusculares incluiu indivíduos cuja eletroneuromiografia, realizada entre 2008 e 2017, estabeleceu o diagnóstico de polineuropatia. Através da análise dos prontuários, as polineuropatias foram classificadas de acordo com a etiologia e aspecto neurofisiológico. Resultados: Dos 380 pacientes incluídos, 59,5% eram homens, com uma mediana de idade de 43 anos. As principais etiologias foram: imunomediada (23,7%), hereditária (18,9%), idiopática (13,7%), multifatorial (11,1%) e diabetes (10,8%). Os principais padrões neurofisiológicos foram polineuropatia axonal sensitivo-motora (36,1%) e polineuropatia mista sensitivo-motora (27,9%). Os padrões axonais demonstraram maior heterogeneidade etiológica, com um predomínio das polineuropatias idiopática e multifatorial, enquanto os padrões desmielinizantes e mistos apresentaram uma significativa restrição de etiologias, com predomínio das polineuropatias hereditária e imunomediada. Conclusão: As principais causas de polineuropatia confirmadas pela eletroneuromiografia nesse estudo foram aquelas que apresentaram um padrão de acometimento grave, atípico e/ou rapidamente progressivo, além das polineuropatias hereditárias e daquelas que desafiam o raciocínio clínico, caracterizadas pela presença múltiplos fatores de risco ou pela ausência de uma etiologia. A eletroneuromiografia é útil para o diagnóstico etiológico de polineuropatias raras, já que os padrões neurofisiológicos se correlacionam com etiologias específicas.

Keywords:

Polyneuropathies - Epidemiology - Diagnosis - Electrodiagnosis

Palavras-chave:

Polineuropatias - Epidemiologia - Diagnóstico - Eletrodiagnóstico

Authors’ contributions:

RDD: conception and design of the study, analysis and interpretation of data, writing of the article, revision of the intellectual content and final approval of the completed manuscript; CLT: data acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data, writing of the article, revision of the intellectual content and final approval of the completed manuscript; CSKK, OJHF, LCW: revision of the intellectual content and final approval of the completed manuscript; PJL, RHS: conception and design of the study, revision of the intellectual content and final approval of the completed manuscript.

Publication History

Received: 20 April 2021

Accepted: 21 June 2021

Article published online:
30 January 2023

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