NEUROPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERLIPIDEMIA

We describe six patients with painful polyneuropathy associated with h yperlipidemia. Each had mild, slowly progressive neuropathy characteri zed by pain in feet, without proximal extension or involvement of hand s. Weakness and autonomic symptoms and signs were absent. Three patien ts had normal tendon reflexes; three others had decreased ankle reflex es. Serum cholesterol levels were moderately increased; serum triglyce ride levels were exceedingly high. In one patient, symptoms resolved w ith correction of hypertriglyceridemia. No other cause of peripheral n europathy was found. Marked increases in serum triglycerides may cause painful small-fiber neuropathy.