Téma: Original Works

Diagnosis and treatment of multifocal motor neuropathy - practical issues

Peter Špalek1,5, Egon Kurča2,5, František Cibulčík1,5, Pavol Kučera3,5, Juraj Vyletelka4,5

Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is an acquired immune-mediated neuropathy characterized by chronic or stepwise progressive asymmetrical limb weakness without sensory deficits. The upper extremities are more often affected than the lower extremities with distal paresis dominating over proximal paresis. MMN is typically characterized by conduction block most likely caused by focal demyelization. Novel morphological and electrophysiological findings highlight the importance of axonal degeneration and impaired axon-myelin interactions. This paper aims at providing a concise overview on clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment of MMN. Cardinal, supportive and exclusion criteria (clinical, electrophysiological, laboratory) for diagnosis of MMN are reviewed. Nowadays, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is regarded as the first-line therapy. The clinical effect of IVIg is usually impressive within first weeks of treatment, although chronic paresis and muscle atrophy do not recover after IVIg application in most cases. Duration of disease proportionately increases the extent of irreversible myelin and axonal dysfunction, therefore early diagnosis and early IVIg treatment is of crucial importance for the prognosis of MMN.

Ročník 2010  Témy časopisu Neurology 3 / 2010

CHAIRMAN OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD
doc. MUDr. Miroslav Brozman, CSc.

MEMBERS OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD
MUDr. František Cibulčík, CSc.
doc. MUDr. Eleonóra Klímová, CSc.
doc. MUDr. Pavol Kučera, PhD.
MUDr. Marian Kuchar, PhD.
doc. MUDr. Robert Mikulík,Ph.D., FESO
MUDr. Vladimír Nosáľ, PhD.
MUDr. Ľubica Procházková, CSc.
prof. MUDr. Bruno Rudinský, CSc.
doc. MUDr. Daniel Šaňák, Ph.D.
doc. MUDr. David Školoudík, Ph.D., FESO
prof. MUDr. Karel Šonka, DrSc.
doc. MUDr. Peter Špalek, PhD.
Dr. Milan R. Voško, PhD.

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