Nerve biopsy in Indian patients with mononeuropathy multiplex of undetermined etiology.

INTRODUCTION: A diagnosis of mononeuropathy multiplex (MM) requires detailed evaluation to determine its etiology. We performed nerve biopsy on patients with MM in whom the etiology could not be established via other investigations.

METHODS: 68 patients with MM seen between January 2013 and June 2014 underwent detailed diagnostic evaluation. Those in whom the investigations failed to establish an etiology underwent nerve biopsy Results: The diagnosis of leprosy was confirmed in 14patients and was highly probable in 17 others. Eleven patients had vasculitic neuropathy, and in 1 patient there were amyloid deposits on nerve biopsy.

DISCUSSION: In 43 of 68 Indian patients (63%) with MM, nerve biopsy identified a definite (26 patients) or probable (17 patients) etiology. Nerve biopsy is an important investigation in MM that frequently results in a diagnosis of leprosy in India. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.