Acute and chronic neuropathies

Peripheral nerve disorders are common and often treatable. The ‘default’ presentation of a polyneuropathy is a chronic, length-dependent, sensorimotor axonopathy. Recognizing deviations from this default, informed by the clinical features and investigations, can help identify the cause of a neuropathy in most cases. For inflammatory causes, such as Guillain–Barré syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, there are effective immunomodulatory treatments. For other neuropathies, management consists of supportive care and treatment of the underlying cause, to prevent or limit progression.