ACUTE FULMINANT SYMMETRICAL VASCULITIC POLYNEUROPATHY - NEED FOR EARLY BIOPSY

We report 2 patients with acute symmetrical axonal motor and sensory p olyneuropathy associated with vasculitis. The clinical presentation in each case was not that of a mononeuritis multiplex, Serial electrophy siological studies in 1 of the patients documented the development of confluent axonal degeneration involving several motor and sensory terr itories over the same period of time, In both patients the diagnosis o f necrotizing vasculitis was established by peripheral nerve biopsy an d recovery followed treatment with prednisone and cyclophosphamide. Bi opsy of an involved nerve should be routinely sought in unexplained ac ute axonal polyneuropathies.