Skip to main content
Log in

Polyarteritis nodosa and peripheral neuropathy

Ultrastructural study of 13 cases

  • Original Works
  • Published:
Acta Neuropathologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Peripheral nerves from 13 patients suffering from polyarteritis nodosa with multiple mononeuropathy were studied by light and electron microscopy. In the majority of cases, the vascular lesions were associated with Wallerian-like degeneration. Myelinated fibers presenting a normal axon with a disproportionately thin myelin sheath were less numerous. Unusual abnormalities consisted of swollen axons with an accumulation of organelles. Unmyelinated fibers were also damaged. A quantitative estimation of myelinated fibers loss did not show any selective vulnerability of either the large or the small diameter group.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Asbury AK, Johnson PC (1978) Pathology of peripheral nerve. Saunders, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Aupy M, Vital C, Deminière C, Henry P (1983) Angéite granulomateuse allergique (Syndrome de Churg et Strauss) révélée par une multinévrite. Ses rapports avec la panartérite nouese. Rev Neurol (Paris) 139:651–656

    Google Scholar 

  • Bischoff A (1979) The peripheral nerves. In: Johannessen JV (ed) Electron microscopy in human medicine. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 137–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Conn DL, Dyck PJ (1984) Angiopathic neuropathy in connective tissue diseases. In: Dyck PJ, Thomas PK, Lambert EH, Bunge R (eds) Peripheral neuropathy. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 2027–2043

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyck PJ, Conn DL, Okazaki H (1972) Necrotizing angiopathic neuropathy. Three-dimensional morphology of fiber degeneration related to sites of occluded vessels. Mayo Clin Proc 47:461–475

    Google Scholar 

  • Eames RA, Lange LS (1967) Clinical and pathological study of ischaemic neuropathy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 30:215–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin JW, Price DL, Engel WK, Drachman DB (1977) The pathogenesis of reactive axonal swellings: role of axonal transport. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 36:214–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Hess K, Eames RA, Darveniza P, Gilliatt RW (1979) Acute ischaemic neuropathy in the rabbit. J Neurol Sci 44:19–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Kernohan JW, Woltman HW (1938) Periarteritis nodosa. A clinicopathologic study with special reference to the nervous system. Arch Neurol Psychiatry 39:655–686

    Google Scholar 

  • Korthals JK, Wisniewski HM (1975) Peripheral nerve ischemia. Part 1. Experimental model. J Neurol Sci 24:65–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Korthals JK, Korthals MA, Wisniewski HM (1978) Peripheral nerve ischemia. Part 2. Accumulation of organelles. Ann Neurol 4:487–498

    Google Scholar 

  • Makitie J, Teravainen H (1977) Peripheral nerve injury and recovery after temporary ischemia. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 37:55–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Nukada H, Pollock M, Allpress S (1981) Experimental cold injury to peripheral nerve. Brain 104:779–811

    Google Scholar 

  • Nukada H, Dyck PJ (1984) Microsphere embolization of nerve capillaries and fiber degeneration. Am J Pathol 115:275–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Ochs S (1984) Basic properties of axoplasmic transport. In: Dyck PJ, Thomas PK, Lambert EH, Bunge R (eds) Peripheral neuropathy. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 453–476

    Google Scholar 

  • Pages M, Pages AM (1984) La biopsie nerveuse au cours de la périartérite noueuse. Son intérêt diagnostique. A propos de neuf observations. Arch Anat Cytol Pathol 32:77–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Parry GJ, Brown MJ (1982) Selective fiber vulnerability in acute ischemic neuropathy. Ann Neurol 11:147–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Sunderland S (1978) Nerves and nerve injuries. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas PK, Sheldon H (1964) Tubular arrays derived from myelin breakdown during Wallerian degeneration of peripheral nerve. J Cell Biol 22:715–718

    Google Scholar 

  • Vital C, Brechenmacher C, Serise JM, Bellance R, Vital A, Dartigues JF, Boissieras P (1983) Ultrastructural study of peripheral nerve in arteritic diabetic patients. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 61:225–231

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vital, A., Vital, C. Polyarteritis nodosa and peripheral neuropathy. Acta Neuropathol 67, 136–141 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00688134

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00688134

Key words

Navigation