Neuropathies associated with connective tissue disease

Neuropathies are a common neurologic manifestation of diffuse connective ti ssue disease. Vasculitic neuropathy requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to improve its outcome. It is commonly multifocal but may be confluent and symmetrical. Vasculitic neuropathy needs to be distinguished from the more common syndromes of compression neuropathy, which may also be multifocal, and nonvasculitic distal axonal polyneuropathy, Sensory neuronopathy is a d istinctive syndrome unique to Sjogren's syndrome among the connective tissu e diseases. Trigeminal sensory neuropathy may be the presenting feature of systemic sclerosis or may develop during the course of other connective tis sue diseases. This article reviews the clinical and diagnostic features of neuropathies associated with the common diffuse connective tissue diseases.