Main metabolic and toxic polyneuropathies in clinical practice

Abstract

Polyneuropathies are diseases of the peripheral nervous system with lesions of motor, sensory or autonomic fibers which are encountered by attending physicians of almost all specialties in outpatient and clinical settings. To date, more than 100 different causes of polyneuropathies have been identified. Metabolic and toxic polyneuropathies are the most common in the group of secondary polyneuropathies. Diabetic, alcoholic, uremic, and drug-induced polyneuropathies take the leading place among these diseases. The main forms of diabetic polyneuropathy are presented. The main clinical form is distal symmetrical polyneuropathy. Clinical symptoms depend on the type of fibers involved in the pathological process - thin or thick. There is an assessment scale in points to determine the severity of diabetic polyneuropathy, which helps in clarifying the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease. The next most frequent among metabolic polyneuropathies is uremic polyneuropathy as the most frequent complication in patients suffering from chronic renal insufficiency. Risk factors of uremic polyneuropathy development, clinical picture, the course of the disease are described. Within the framework of toxic polyneuropathies, the main place is given to alcoholic polyneuropathies, chemotherapy-induced, and drug-induced. For each of these categories, clinical forms and pathophysiology of development are described. For all polyneuropathies, the main diagnostic aspects are presented. The main therapeutic approaches are shown. A separate place is given to the use of alpha-lipoic acid.