Inflammatory neuropathies: update

This review focuses on recent neuroimmunological findings in autoimmune inf lammatory neuropathies. In Guillain-Barre syndrome and paraneoplastic neuro pathy most current investigations are centred on the hypothesis of molecula r mimicry. In chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and multifocal motor neuropathy the data on immunopathology are more fragmenta ry. Why and how patients with autoimmune inflammatory neuropathies raise an increased anti-self-reactivity and how this leads to disease remains a maj or challenge for future research. Curr Opin Neurol 13:305-309. (C) 2000 Lip pincott Williams & Wilkins.