PERIPHERAL-NERVE VASCULITIS - A CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY

The clinico-pathological findings of 20 nerve biopsies consecutively p erformed at the neuropathological laboratory of Verona University Hosp ital were reviewed in order to establish the most important clinical m anifestations of peripheral nerve vasculitis and to determine the role of biopsy in corroborating the diagnosis. Dystal sensori motor polyne uropathy was the most frequent clinical manifestation, confirming prev ious clinico-pathological studies and suggesting a more widespread pat hological process than usually supposed. The biopsy was the basis of t he diagnosis since it established or substantially modified the clinic al diagnosis. Therefore we suggest that in cases with suspected vascul itis of the peripheral nerve the biopsy makes a useful contribution to diagnosis.