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Review
. 2019 Aug 12:12:1756286419866367.
doi: 10.1177/1756286419866367. eCollection 2019.

Peripheral nerve disease secondary to systemic conditions in children

Jo M Wilmshurst  1 , Robert A Ouvrier  2 , Monique M Ryan  3
Affiliations
Review

Peripheral nerve disease secondary to systemic conditions in children

Jo M Wilmshurst et al. Ther Adv Neurol Disord. .

Abstract

This review is an overview of systemic conditions that can be associated with peripheral nervous system dysfunction. Children may present with neuropathic symptoms for which, unless considered, a causative systemic condition may not be recognized. Similarly, some systemic conditions may be complicated by comorbid peripheral neuropathies, surveillance for which is indicated. The systemic conditions addressed in this review are critical illness polyneuropathy, chronic renal failure, endocrine disorders such as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2b, vitamin deficiency states, malignancies and reticuloses, sickle cell disease, neurofibromatosis, connective tissue disorders, bowel dysmotility and enteropathy, and sarcoidosis. In some disorders presymptomatic screening should be undertaken, while in others there is no benefit from early detection of neuropathy. In children with idiopathic peripheral neuropathies, systemic disorders such as celiac disease should be actively excluded. While management is predominantly focused on symptomatic care through pain control and rehabilitation, some neuropathies improve with effective control of the underlying etiology and in a small proportion a more targeted approach is possible. In conclusion, peripheral neuropathies can be associated with a diverse range of medical conditions and unless actively considered may not be recognized and inadequately managed.

Keywords: children; peripheral neuropathy; systemic disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Tumor is seen arising within a plexiform neurofibroma in a patient with of Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) on low-power montage. (Image supplied by Associate Professor Duncan McGregor, Department Head of Anatomical Pathology, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia)
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The same patient with NF-1 as in Figure 1, in this view tumour is seen arising within a plexiform neurofibroma at high magnification illustrating the densely cellular spindle cell sarcoma is visible. (Image supplied by Associate Professor Duncan McGregor, Department Head of Anatomical Pathology, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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