Charcot joint in idiopathic sensorimotor neuropathy

Charcot joint or neuropathic arthropathy is described in certain neurologic al conditions. We report the case of a man who presented with a swollen ank le 10 days after a long walk, which rapidly progressed to a Charcot joint. A neurological examination revealed areflexia and insensitivity to temperat ure and pain. Electromyographic analysis showed a mixed sensorimotor polyne uropathy. Besides axonal loss and demyelinisation on sural nerve biopsy, pr ominent loss of unmyelinated fibres was demonstrated. Despite extensive inv estigations, no definite cause for this neuropathy could be found.