Axonal Polyneuropathy

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Axonal polyneuropathy

Polyneuropathy is an incredibly common disease that mainly affects the peripheral nervous system. According to the signs of pathological changes in the human body, polyneuropathies are divided into axonal and demyelinating. Axonal polyneuropathies are polyneuropathies, with the development of which the axonal cylinder is mainly affected.

This type of disease occurs with various serious metabolic disorders, as well as with intoxication with lead, mercury, arsenic, various FOS, with alcoholism, etc. Depending on the nature of the course, there are four types: acute, subacute, chronic and recurrent.

Acute axonal polyneuropathy can develop literally in 2-4 days, most often it is caused by severe poisoning - criminal or suicidal, and general intoxication of the body under the influence of harmful carbon monoxide, lead, arsenic, mercury, methyl alcohol and other factors. The presented disease can last more than 10 days.

Subacute axonal polyneuropathy develops within a few weeks, which is characteristic of most cases of metabolic and toxic neuropathies. Usually, the healing process takes a long time and can take many months.

Chronic axonal polyneuropathy often progresses for a long time - from six months or more. The disease usually occurs against the background of typical alcoholism, deficiency of vitamins B1 or B12, as well as in the presence of certain diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, blood diseases, cancer, lymphoma.

As modern medicines that effectively fight polyneuropathy, apressin should be noted. Due to their unique neurotropic effects, these drugs significantly help in the healing of the disease.

Recurrent axonal polyneuropathy can repeatedly make itself felt and recur with similar symptoms for several years at different intervals.

Among axonal polyneuropathies, alcoholic polyneuropathy is most common. This dangerous disease occurs as a result of prolonged and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. An important role in this is played not only by the quantity, but also by the quality of alcohol - the use of substitutes or low-quality alcohol also has an extremely adverse effect on the body.

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The main cause of the onset of the disease is the negative effect of toxins contained in alcohol on nerve fibers, as a result of which metabolic processes are disrupted in them. As a rule, alcoholic polyneuropathy is subacute. There are sensations of numbness in the distal parts of the lower extremities, and there are also quite severe pains in the calf muscles. With increasing pressure, muscle pain increases markedly.

The next stage in the development of the disease is dysfunction of the limbs, most often of the lower ones, expressed by weakness and sometimes paralysis. The nerves responsible for flexion-extension of the foot are most affected. The sensitivity of the skin surface in the "socks" and "gloves" area is impaired.

In some cases, alcoholic polyneuropathy is acute. This usually occurs as a result of excessive hypothermia. In this case, serious mental disorders can be observed.

In addition to the above symptoms, other disorders may additionally be present, such as increased sweating, noticeable edema of the distal parts of the lower and sometimes upper limbs, a significant change in their color and normal temperature. Also, the disease can affect the cranial nerves - in this case, the optic and oculomotor nerves are damaged.

Painful symptoms usually appear and continue to grow over several weeks or even months. After that, the next stage begins - stationary, and then, already during treatment, the stage of regression of the disease. In total, the disease can take a long time and last for several years. In the case of refusal to use alcoholic beverages, the disease can be successfully dealt with.

For the treatment of alcoholic polyneuropathy, first of all, vitamins are prescribed, mainly of group B, as well as vitamin C, and agents that help restore metabolism are also used. Later, dibazol is used and, if necessary, physiotherapy.

As a rule, many patients with alcoholic polyneuropathy become disabled and are recognized as disabled. When the body's motor functions return, the disability group can be changed from II to III, and in the case of further successful treatment, patients can return to full-fledged work and life.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".