Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Neurol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Radiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

Background: Diagnosis and disease monitoring of non-systemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSVN) are based on electrophysiological and clinical measures. However, these methods are insensitive to detect subtle differences of axonal injury. We here assessed the utility of a multiparametric MRI protocol to quantify axonal injury and neurogenic muscle damage in NSVN. Read More

Muscle Nerve 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Introduction: To improve diagnostic accuracy, this study compared pre-biopsy clinical parameters with subsequent pathological confirmation of peripheral nerve vasculitis.

Methods: Clinical, laboratory and neurophysiological parameters were analysed for consecutive patients referred for nerve biopsy with suspected vasculitis. Patients were assigned pathologic categories of definite, probable, possible or absent vasculitis using validated guidelines. Read More

Reumatol Clin 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Servicio de Reumatología, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, España.

Objective: To review the efficacy and safety of rituximab in vasculitic neuropathy (VN) METHODS: A literature search was performed on Medline and Embase up until 2017. It included terms related to "vasculitis","vasculitic neuropathy" and "Rituximab". Research was carried out by two reviewers. Read More

Neurol India 2019 Jan-Feb;67(Supplement):S62-S70

Department of Neurochemistry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Aim: To describe the clinical and laboratory findings of patients with biopsy proven vasculitic neuropathy.

Introduction: Peripheral neuropathies form one of the most common disorders of the nervous system. However, more than 50% of them are labelled as 'idiopathic' and, therefore, treatment options become less. Read More

Rinsho Shinkeigaku 2018 Dec 29;58(12):745-749. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Neurology, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital.

We present the unique case of a patient with lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy (LRPN) and a small intramedullary lesion, probably an infarction, in the spinal cord. A previously healthy 58-year-old female developed acute severe pain involving the entire right lower limb, followed by weakness of the right lower limb a few hours later. The patient could not walk and was referred to our clinic. Read More

Curr Opin Rheumatol 2019 Jan;31(1):40-45

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Vasculitis of medium-sized and small vessels commonly affects peripheral nerves and can occur in context of a systemic vasculitis with multiorgan involvement or a nonsystemic vasculitis limited to the peripheral nervous system. This review summarizes the clinical and pathological features of systemic and nonsystemic vasculitis of the peripheral nervous system.

Recent Findings: Vasculitis of peripheral nerves is a diffuse process that affects the vasa nervorum along the entire length of affected nerves but appears to cause injury primarily in a zone in the proximal-middle of the nerve that is particularly susceptible to ischemic injury. Read More

BMC Pulm Med 2018 Nov 19;18(1):170. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland.

Background: Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial-pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is increasing in incidence and prevalence. Mycobacterium abscessus (M.abscessus) is a rapid growing multi-resistant NTM associated with severe NTM-PD requiring prolonged antibiotic therapy. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Sep 19;2018. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull, UK.

A retired businessman presented to the infectious diseases department with a history of ongoing fevers and myalgia and raised inflammatory markers. This continued despite adequate antibiotic treatment of an epididymo-orchitis. Extensive investigations, including bone marrow and liver biopsies and a positron emission tomography, did not reveal a cause but showed reactive change in the bone marrow. Read More

Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes 2017 Sep 1;1(2):192-197. Epub 2017 Sep 1.

Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Recently, guidelines have been outlined for management of immune-related adverse events occurring with immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer, irrespective of affected organ systems. Increasingly, these complications have been recognized as including diverse neuromuscular presentations, such as demyelinating and axonal length-dependent peripheral neuropathies, vasculitic neuropathy, myasthenia gravis, and myopathy. We present 2 cases of brachial plexopathy developing on anti-programmed cell death-1 checkpoint inhibitor therapies (pembrolizumab, nivolumab). Read More

Indian J Pathol Microbiol 2018 Jul-Sep;61(3):339-344

Department of Pathology, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Background: Nerve biopsy has been widely used to investigate patients with peripheral neuropathy and in many centers, it is still a part of the diagnostic armamentarium. In this study, the histopathological spectrum of the nerve biopsies received is being revisited to analyze the various clinical and pathologic features and also to assess their relevance.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective analysis of the data retrieved was done for 74 cases of nerve biopsies. Read More

J Peripher Nerv Syst 2018 Sep 24;23(3):174-177. Epub 2018 Jul 24.

Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.

Neurofilament light chain (NFL) levels reflect axonal damage in different inflammatory and neurodegenerative central nervous system conditions, in correlation with disease severity. Our aim was to determine the possible diagnostic and prognostic value of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NFL levels in subjects with different forms of acquired peripheral neuropathies (PN). Paired serum and CSF samples of 25 patients with acquired PN were analysed for NFL using an ultrasensitive technique (Quanterix, Simoa, Lexington, MA, USA) and compared with a group of 25 age-matched healthy subjects. Read More

Oman Med J 2018 May;33(3):253-255

Department of Internal Medicine, Government Medical College Kozhikode, Kerala, India.

Necrotizing vasculitic neuropathy in polyarteritis nodosa can rarely present acutely and may mimic acute inflammatory neuropathies. A 53-year-old male presented with an acute neurological illness characterized by paresthesia and weakness of both lower limbs lasting six-days. He also had mild paresthesia of both hands. Read More

Pain Physician 2018 03;21(2):111-120

Academic Department of Neurosciences, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Background: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a common symptom caused by lesions or diseases of the somatosensory nervous system. Acute/subacute peripheral neuropathies (APN) are rare, however can be particularly painful.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to estimate the incidence of NP in APN and overview the various etiologies of such neuropathies. Read More

J Clin Neuromuscul Dis 2018 Mar;19(3):138-141

Department of Neurology, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, MA.

We describe 2 patients presenting with multiplex mononeuritis, associated with skin manifestation, secondary to minocycline-induced vasculitis. One of the cases is associated neither with lupus nor polyarteritis nodosa. An extensive laboratory workup ruled out any possible underlying immunologic disorder. Read More

Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol 2017 13;13:49. Epub 2017 Dec 13.

Department of Internal Medicine, IJsselland Hospital, Capelle aan den IJssel, The Netherlands.

Background: Although influenza vaccines are generally safe and effective, a variety of autoimmune phenomena have been reported after vaccination over the past years, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, pemphigus vulgaris, psoriasis, giant cell arteritis and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV).

Case Report: We describe the case of a 67-year old man who presented with a myeloperoxidase-ANCA associated vasculitis with renal involvement and mononeuritis multiplex after seasonal influenza vaccination. He was initially treated with intravenous cyclophosphamide and high-dose prednisolone followed by maintenance treatment consisting of azathioprine and prednisolone. Read More

J Ultrasound Med 2018 Jun 21;37(6):1565-1574. Epub 2017 Nov 21.

Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Center for Neuroscience, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

The differential diagnosis of upper extremity mononeuritis multiplex includes neuralgic amyotrophy, vasculitic neuropathy, and Lewis-Sumner syndrome. We describe 3 patients initially suspected of neuralgic amyotrophy, who had an extremely painful, protracted, progressive disease course, not fitting one of these established diagnoses. Nerve ultrasonography showed focal caliber changes of the roots, plexus, and limb nerves. Read More

Autoimmun Rev 2018 Jan 3;17(1):73-77. Epub 2017 Nov 3.

Department of Rheumatology and Lupus, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. Electronic address:

Objectives: We analysed the spectrum of clinical manifestations of cocaine associated pseudovasculitis.

Methods: Clinical, serological, radiological and histological features of 14 patients with cocaine pseudovasculitis syndromes were included.

Results: Twelve patients had significant sinus thickening or erosive disease. Read More

Neurologist 2017 Nov;22(6):234-236

2nd Neurology Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.

X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT 1X) is the second most common form of inherited demyelinating neuropathy. It is established that patients suffering from CMT 1X can have episodes of hemiparesis, paraparesis, quadriparesis, ataxia, aphasia, and dysarthria, which can be fully reversible, and 'trigger' factors for these episodes are usually febrile illness, high altitudes, hyperventilation, and physical activity. We describe a 22-year-old patient with a history of viral infection and sleep deprivation who presented to our department because of acute difficulty in walking and neurophysiological findings suggesting Guillain-Barre syndrome. Read More

Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm 2017 Nov 23;4(6):e407. Epub 2017 Oct 23.

Department of Neurology (M.T., H.K., S.I., Y.K., M.I., A.H., M.K., G.S.), and Research Division of Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease (G.S.), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms of vasculitis in nonsystemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSVN) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), focusing on complement- and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated pathogenesis.

Methods: Sural nerve biopsy specimens taken from twenty-four patients with NSVN and 37 with MPA-associated neuropathy (MPAN) were examined. Twenty-two patients in the MPAN group tested positive for ANCA. Read More

Nat Rev Neurol 2017 Oct 15;13(10):599-611. Epub 2017 Sep 15.

Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Education City, PO Box 24144, Doha, Qatar.

Distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN) is the most common neuropathy to occur in diabetes mellitus. However, patients with diabetes can also develop inflammatory neuropathies, the most common and most treatable of which is chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Whether diabetes is a risk factor for CIDP remains under debate. Read More

JAMA Neurol 2017 10;74(10):1216-1222

Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Importance: Neurological complications are an increasingly recognized consequence of the use of anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) antibodies in the treatment of solid-organ tumors, with an estimated frequency of 4.2%. To date, the clinical spectrum and optimum treatment approach are not established. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2018 Jul 25;77(7):1093-1094. Epub 2017 Jul 25.

Clinic for Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Neurosci Lett 2017 Aug 19;656:77-82. Epub 2017 Jul 19.

Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC; School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address:

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) in the rat femoral artery has been proposed as an experimental model of vasculitic peripheral neuropathy (VPN) which presents neuropathic pain and peripheral nerve injury patterns observed clinically. This study investigates the involvement of the proinflammatory signaling pathway underlying the peripheral mechanisms of VPN. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to receive either a sham operation or IR. Read More

Exp Neurobiol 2017 Jun 14;26(3):168-171. Epub 2017 Jun 14.

Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul 06973, Korea.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is an immune related systemic disease that is caused by vasculitis affecting multiple organ systems. It is characterized by asthma, fever, eosinophilia, cardiac problems, renal injury, and peripheral neuropathy. In this report, we describe a patient with EGPA with concurrent cerebral infarction and acute polyneuropathy mimicking a Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Read More

Intern Med 2017 1;56(11):1431-1434. Epub 2017 Jun 1.

Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.

We herein report a case of peripheral neuropathy following exposure to large amounts of glyphosate-based herbicide. A 70-year-old man suffered from pain and purpura in the left sole following exposure to glyphosate-based herbicide. Pain and purpura spread to the opposite side and increased in severity. Read More

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2017 09 26;88(9):756-760. Epub 2017 May 26.

Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany.

Objective: To identify the most relevant antigens for monoclonal antibodies in lymphocytic infiltrates in non-systemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSVN).

Background: Current immunosuppressive treatment for NSVN is insufficient. Monoclonal antibodies might be a treatment option, but the expression profile for targetable antigens on lymphocytic infiltrates in NSVN is unknown. Read More

Nat Rev Neurol 2017 Apr;13(5):302-316

Department of Neurology, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK.

Nonsystemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSVN) is an under-recognized single-organ vasculitis of peripheral nerves that can only be diagnosed with a nerve biopsy. A Peripheral Nerve Society guideline group published consensus recommendations on the classification, diagnosis and treatment of NSVN in 2010, and new diagnostic criteria for vasculitic neuropathy were developed by the Brighton Collaboration in 2015. In this Review, we provide an update on the classification, diagnosis and treatment of NSVN. Read More

Noro Psikiyatr Ars 2016 Mar 1;53(1):23-27. Epub 2016 Mar 1.

Clinic of Neurology, İzmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.

Introduction: To investigate the existence of peripheral and optic neuropathies in asymptomatic individuals with hepatitis C infection.

Methods: Thirty consecutive patients who were followed in a hepatitis C outpatient clinic were recruited for electrophysiological evaluation together with 30 age- and gender-compatible healthy controls. All patients had a detailed neurological examination. Read More

J Adv Res 2017 Mar 2;8(2):99-111. Epub 2016 Dec 2.

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.

Vasculitis is a remarkable presentation of the extrahepatic manifestations of HCV. According to the presence or absence of cryoglobulins it is subdivided into two main types: cryoglobulinemic vasculitis and non cryoglobulinemic vasculitis based on the attribution of vasculitis to serum cryoglobulins as a pathogenic factor. The attribution of cryoglobulinemia to HCV represents a success story in the history of immunology, microbiology, and clinical medicine. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2017 Apr 26;36(4):913-917. Epub 2017 Jan 26.

Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Minami-Kyoto National Hospital, Joyo-shi, Kyoto, 610-0113, Japan.

To clarify the roles of neutrophils in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitic neuropathy, we studied neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in peripheral nerve vasculitis. Stored nerve samples from 17 patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) were immunohistochemically analyzed using antibodies for citrullinated histone H3 (citH3) and various neutrophil enzymes. We defined merged citH3 and extracellularly released myeloperoxidase (MPO) as NET formation. Read More

Ann Oncol 2017 02;28(2):433-434

Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Can J Neurol Sci 2017 Mar 11;44(2):184-189. Epub 2016 Nov 11.

Department of Neurology,Mayo Clinic,Rochester MN,55905,USA.

Renaut corpuscles are cylindrical hyaline structures that arise from the peripheral nerve perineurium and project into the endoneurium. Despite their earlier accurate description in the French and German literature, Kernohan and Woltman (1938) reported very similar structures as "nerve infarcts" in a case series of vasculitic neuropathy. Krücke (1955) deserves credit for discovering this error and further explaining how peripheral nerves react differently (from brain parenchyma) to ischemia. Read More

eNeurologicalSci 2017 Mar 5;6:4-5. Epub 2016 Oct 5.

Department of Neurology, Mitsui Memorial Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Proteinase 3 anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (PR3-ANCA) is reported to be highly specific to vasculitis compared to myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA. We report a case of a 19-year-old woman with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) with high PR3-ANCA positivity. The patient responded well to intravenous immunoglobulin plus oral steroid, and showed no signs of systemic vasculitis during the subsequent 10 months of follow-up. Read More

PLoS One 2016;11(9):e0163427. Epub 2016 Sep 23.

Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Twenty-five percent of polyneuropathies are idiopathic. Microangiopathy has been suggested to be a possible pathogenic cause of chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy (CIAP). Dysfunction of the autophagy pathway has been implicated as a marker of neurodegeneration in the central nervous system, but the autophagy process is not explored in the peripheral nervous system. Read More

Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2016 Jul-Sep;19(3):323-6

Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Objective: To describe clinical, electrophysiological, and histopathological profile of vasculitic neuropathy in elderly subjects aged 65 years or more.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Departments of Neurology and Neuropathology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Read More

Neurol Clin Pract 2016 Aug;6(4):293-303

Department of Neurology (HSG, WLvdP, AFJEV, NCN, LHvdB), Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, UMC Utrecht; and Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology (J-THvA, LHV), St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, the Netherlands.

Background: We sought to determine the usefulness of sonography in the detection of nerve involvement in patients with vasculitic neuropathy.

Methods: We enrolled 16 consecutive patients with vasculitic neuropathy (11 systemic vasculitis and 5 single organ peripheral nerve vasculitis), who met the diagnostic criteria of the Peripheral Nerve Society, and 16 disease controls with noninflammatory axonal polyneuropathy (10 cryptogenic, 4 metabolic, 2 hereditary). Patients underwent standardized nerve conduction studies and assessment of muscle strength (Medical Research Council scale), in addition to sonography of large arm and leg nerves, and brachial plexus. Read More

Nervenarzt 2016 Aug;87(8):887-98

Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97070, Würzburg, Deutschland.

The Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) are the most common immune-mediated polyneuropathies, which can show variable clinical and electrophysiological manifestations. Rarer immune-mediated neuropathies encompass paraproteinemic neuropathies (PPN), multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) and vasculitic neuropathies. The diagnosis usually relies on the history of symptom evolution, distribution of nerve dysfunction and particularly on characteristic features in nerve conduction studies, aided by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination and nerve biopsy findings. Read More

Case Rep Neurol 2016 May-Aug;8(2):108-14. Epub 2016 May 25.

Departments of Neurology, Cantonal Hospital, St. Gallen, Switzerland; Departments of Haematology and Oncology, Cantonal Hospital, St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Introduction: The additional value of peripheral nerve ultrasound in acquired immune-mediated neuropathies has recently been reported. Its impact in vasculitic neuropathy is yet to be defined. We report electrophysiological and nerve ultrasound studies in a patient with nonsystemic vasculitic neuropathy at first diagnosis and in response to immunosuppression. Read More

Muscle Nerve 2017 06 28;55(6):884-893. Epub 2017 Mar 28.

Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 11, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic usefulness of skin punch biopsies with emphasis on visualization and quantification of T-cells and macrophages in patients with polyneuropathies.

Methods: We quantified inflammatory cells in skin samples (lower leg, upper thigh) in 187 patients and compared data with counts in their sural nerve biopsies and with skin biopsies from 32 healthy volunteers.

Results: Vessel-bound T-cells and macrophages were increased in proximal and distal skin samples of neuropathy patients compared with controls (P < 0. Read More

Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2017 Mar;96(3):e44-e47

From the Neuromusculoskeletal Research Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran (FG, GRR); and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Iran (RS).

Vasculitis is a group of disorders characterized by inflammation and destruction of blood vessels, resulting in ischemic injury to the involved tissue. Sometimes, peripheral neuropathy is one of the first symptoms of systemic vasculitis. Although the classic form of peripheral nervous system vasculitis is mononeuritis multiplex, it can also present as a mononeuritis. Read More

Neurosci Lett 2016 08 7;628:10-6. Epub 2016 Jun 7.

Department of Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology Division, Akal Toxicology Research Centre, A Unit of Akal College of Pharmacy & Technical Education, Mastuana Sahib, Sangrur 148001, Punjab, India; School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Durban 4001 South Africa. Electronic address:

Clinically, ischemic environment during gynecological surgery at lithotomy position is most common causative factor for the development of vasculitic femoral neuropathy (VFN). The present study was designed to induce the clinically relevant rat model of VFN by ischemic-reperfusion (I/R) injury of unilateral external iliac artery (uEIA). The VFN was induced by 3, 4 and 5h occlusion of uEIA followed by reperfusion. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2016 29;43(4):251-60. Epub 2016 Apr 29.

Department of Rare, Immunologic, Hematologic and Immunohematologic Diseases, Center of Research of Immunopathology and Rare Diseases, Coordinating Center of the Network for Rare Diseases of Piedmont and Aosta Valley, S. Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Turin, Italy.

Background: In a prospective, single-center open study, we evaluated the very long-term effects of rituximab (RTX) administered to patients with severe mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC).

Methods: RTX was administered to 31 patients with MC (type II in 29 cases and type III in 2) with diffuse membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (16 cases), peripheral neuropathy (26) and large skin ulcers (7). All but 4 patients had serum anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies. Read More

Muscle Nerve 2017 01 13;55(1):23-27. Epub 2016 Oct 13.

Department of Pathology, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Gomtinagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Introduction: A diagnosis of mononeuropathy multiplex (MM) requires detailed evaluation to determine etiology. We performed nerve biopsy on patients with MM in whom the etiology could not be established via other investigations.

Methods: Sixty-eight patients with MM seen between January 2013 and June 2014 underwent detailed diagnostic evaluation. Read More

Front Neurol 2016 30;7:48. Epub 2016 Mar 30.

Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg , Würzburg , Germany.

High-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) is an emerging new tool in the investigation of peripheral nerves. We set out to assess the utility of HRUS performed at lower extremity nerves in peripheral neuropathies. Nerves of 26 patients with polyneuropathies of different etiologies and 26 controls were investigated using HRUS. Read More

Brain Nerve 2016 Mar;68(3):233-41

Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine.

Non-systemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSVN) is a vasculitis confined to the peripheral nervous system. It is one of the most common causes of vasculitic neuropathy, along with microscopic polyangiitis and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome). It remains unclear whether this disease is truly an isolated nosological entity, or part of the spectrum of systemic vasculitides. Read More

Brain Nerve 2016 Mar;68(3):223-31

Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Minami-Kyoto Hospital.

Prompt diagnosis of vasculitis is necessary because neuropathy may be the first symptom of vasculitic syndrome, and it is crucial for the management of patients. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, rheumatoid vasculitis, cryoglobulinemia, Sjogren's syndrome, and non-systemic vasculitic neuropathy are disorders frequently associated with vasculitic neuropathy. Pathological features such as the size of the involved vessels and the type of inflammatory cells, combined with general symptoms and laboratory data, may contribute to the specific diagnosis. Read More

Brain Nerve 2016 Mar;68(3):213-21

Department of Neurology, Kawasaki Medical School, Department of Neurology.

Nerve conduction studies (NCSs) are essential to the work up of peripheral neuropathy. NCSs are useful in vasculitic neuropathy because they can serve as a guide in the nerve biopsy, as well as detect asymptomatic vasculitic neuropathy. NCSs characteristically show axonal loss of motor and sensory fibers with asymmetric or non-length-dependent patterns. Read More

Brain Nerve 2016 Mar;68(3):205-11

Institute of Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Higashisaitama Hospital.

Vasculitic peripheral neuropathy (VPN) occurs due to ischemic changes of peripheral nerves, resulting from a deficit of vascular blood supply due to damaged vasa nervorum leading to vasculitis. VPN usually manifests as sensorimotor or sensory disturbances accompanied by pain, presenting as a type of multiple mononeuropathy, with a scattered distribution in distal limbs. VPN may also present as a mononeuropathy, distal symmetric polyneuropathy, plexopathy, or radiculopathy. Read More

Rinsho Shinkeigaku 2016 21;56(2):88-92. Epub 2016 Jan 21.

Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine.

We report a 43-year-old man experienced numbness in the distal portion of both legs, which progressed over following two months. Neurological examination showed hypesthesia and muscle weakness in the distal portion of both legs. No abnormal findings were seen on blood test and whole-body contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT). Read More

Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016 Mar 25;62:48-55. Epub 2015 Dec 25.

Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, India. Electronic address:

RAGE, the receptor of advanced glycation end-products, is thought to be one of the potential contributors to the neurodegeneration. It has been shown that RAGE activation triggers an increase in proinflammatory molecules, oxidative stressors and cytokines. RAGE involvement has been documented in the pathogenesis of a number of neurodegenerative diseases such amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, Creutzfeld-Jakob' diseases and various neurodegenerative conditions such as diabetic neuropathy, familial amyloid polyneuropathy, Charcot neuroarthropathy and vasculitic neuropathy. Read More