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(pŏl″ē-nū′răl) [″ + neuron, nerve, sinew] Pert. to, innervated, or supplied by many nerves.


(pŏl″ē-nū-rĭt′ĭk) [″ + ″ + itis, inflammation] Inflammation of several nerves at once.


(pol″ē-noo-rīt′ĭs) [poly- + neuritis] Multiple neuritis.

acute idiopathic p. Guillain-Barré syndrome.

diabetic p. Diabetic neuropathy.

Jamaica ginger p. Jamaica ginger paralysis.

metabolic p. Polyneuritis due to metabolic disorders such as nutritional deficiency, esp. the lack of thiamine; gastrointestinal disorders; or pathologic conditions such as diabetes, pernicious anemia, and toxemias of pregnancy.

toxic p. Polyneuritis due to poisons such as heavy metals, alcohol, carbon monoxide, or organic compounds.


(pol″ē-noo-rop′ă-thē) [poly- + neuropathy] Any disease that affects multiple peripheral nerves.

acute inflammatory demyelinating p. Guillain-Barré syndrome.

amyloid p. Polyneuropathy characterized by deposition of amyloid in nerves. Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disease, primarily identified in individuals of Japanese heritage in which transthyretin is deposited in and disrupts neurological function.

chronic inflammatory demyelinating p. ABBR: CIDP. A gradually progressing autoimmune muscle weakness in arms and legs caused by inflammation of the myelin sheath covering peripheral nerve axons. Demyelination slows or blocks conduction of impulses to muscles. Numbness and paresthesia may accompany or precede loss of motor function, which varies from mild to severe. Laboratory findings include elevated protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. The inflammatory damage involves not only phagocytes (neutrophils and macrophages), but also immune complexes and complement activation by myelin autoantigens. Immunosuppressive drugs are used to treat this illness. Plasma exchange therapy or infusions of immunoglobulins often are used first, to produce a remission. CIDP is considered to be a chronic counterpart to Guillain-Barré syndrome.

critical illness p. ABBR: CIP. A complication occurring in patients in intensive care in which failure to wean from mechanical ventilation is associated with distal limb weakness, loss of distal sensation from light touch or pinprick, and diminished reflexes; facial muscles and nerves are spared. Recovery typically occurs several weeks or months after resolution of the underlying disease. It is associated with the use of drugs, such as corticosteroids or paralytic agents, and neurological illnesses, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome.

diabetic p. Diabetic neuropathy.

familial amyloiditic p. An inherited form of amyloid polyneuropathy in which abnormal forms of transthyretin are deposited in nerves and brain tissue, making multiple nerves malfunction.

paraproteinemic p. Polyneuropathy due to excessive levels of immunoglobulin in the blood. The most commonly implicated immunoglobulins are immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G.

porphyric p. Polyneuropathy due to ...

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