Chronic demyelinating hypertrophic brachial plexus neuropathy
Corresponding Author
Peter Y.K. van den Bergh MD, PhD
Department of Neurology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, University of Louvain, 10 Avenue Hippocrate, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
Department of Neurology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, University of Louvain, 10 Avenue Hippocrate, B-1200 Brussels, BelgiumSearch for more papers by this authorJean-Louis Thonnard PhD
Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Unit, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorThierry Duprez MD
Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorE. Christian Laterre MD, PhD
Department of Neurology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, University of Louvain, 10 Avenue Hippocrate, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Peter Y.K. van den Bergh MD, PhD
Department of Neurology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, University of Louvain, 10 Avenue Hippocrate, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
Department of Neurology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, University of Louvain, 10 Avenue Hippocrate, B-1200 Brussels, BelgiumSearch for more papers by this authorJean-Louis Thonnard PhD
Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Unit, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorThierry Duprez MD
Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorE. Christian Laterre MD, PhD
Department of Neurology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, University of Louvain, 10 Avenue Hippocrate, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
A patient with unilateral, painless, chronic progressive upper limb sensorimotor deficit showed electrophysiological evidence of a focal demyelinating neuropathy with almost complete conduction block across the brachial plexus. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed marked brachial plexus hypertrophy. Intravenous immunoglobulin led to fast and complete recovery, maintained by intermittent perfusions. Hypertrophic brachial plexus neuropathy can be a presentation of focal chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Objective and quantitative assessment of hand function is useful to evaluate treatment results and to optimize treatment regimens. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 23: 283–288, 2000.
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