Peripheral nervous system involvement in systemic amyloidosis

Abstract

Peripheral nervous system involvement may be a main manifestation of systemic amyloidosis or occur in the later stages of the disease in the presence of multiple organ pathology. Focal, multiple mononeuropathy, radiculopathy, polyneuropathy, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and myopathy develop depending on the localization of amyloid deposits in the peripheral nervous system. The most characteristic symptom in systemic amyloidosis is sensorimotor polyneuropathy accompanied in most cases by the involvement of autonomic nerve fibers in the pathological process. In cases of systemic amyloidosis, peripheral nervous system involvement is progressive, leading to disability, which makes the early diagnosis of the disease and its neurological manifestations and subsequent pathogenetic therapy relevant.