Lower Limbs Axonal Neuropathy in Polyarteritis Nodosa with Onset of Neuropathic Symptoms

Objective: The retrospective study aimed to investigate the most common electrophysiological changes in patients with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) of peripheral neuropathy onset and supply some clinical data to neurologists to pay attention to PAN. Methods We reviewed the records of all PAN patients with peripheral neuropathy as the initial symptom who attended The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from December 2019 to December 2020. Finally, ten patients and thirteen healthy controls were clinical and electrophysiologically investigated in our study. Results Disease onset was subacute or acute style, with asymmetric clinical onset. Nine patients (90%) presented clinical onset from lower limbs, one (10%) from both lower and upper limbs. Symptoms of distal limbs were more severe than those of proximal ones in seven patients (70%). Nerve conduction studies revealed motor and sensory axonal neuropathy with a predilection for peroneal and sural nerves in the lower limbs. Conclusions Asymmetric motor and sensory axonal neuropathy, especially severe involvement of lower and distal limbs is the most electrophysiological changes in patients with PAN of peripheral neuropathy onset, which is consistent with clinical manifestation.