Prospective follow-up study of chronic polyneuropathy of undetermined cause

Forty consecutive patients with chronic sensorimotor polyneuropathy of unde termined cause were followed to determine disease progression and prognosis . They had had neurological symptoms for at least 1 year before presentatio n. Neurophysiological examination in all patients showed chronic axonal deg eneration, which was confirmed by sural nerve biopsy. Patients were reviewe d every 3 months. Laboratory tests were performed every 6 months for the fi rst 2 years and then annually. Neurophysiological examination was performed annually in all patients. Patients were followed up for at least 4 years. In no instance was a possible etiological factor detected during follow-up. The clinical and electrophysiological findings had a slowly progressive co urse. We suggest that patients with a chronic polyneuropathy of undetermine d cause despite detailed investigations do not require further extensive an d expensive laboratory tests and neurophysiological studies during follow-u p. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.