DORSAL-ROOT GANGLIOPATHIA PRESENTING WITH RAPIDLY PROGRESSING SENSORYPOLYNEUROPATHY

A 52-year-old woman developed progressive sensory polyneuropathy leadi ng to death in 1.5 years. electromyography and peripheral nerve biopsy had revealed severe axonal degeneration. Neuropathological examinatio n showed involvement of all dorsal root ganglia with loss of the bipol ar nerve cells, degeneration of the remaining nerve cells, Nageotte's residual nodules,and scattered lymphocytes. The posterior columns of t he spinal cord and the sensory spinal roots revealed secondary loss an d degeneration of the nerve fibers. The etiology is unknown but an aut oimmune-mediated reaction effecting the nervous system is strongly sug gested.