Inherited polyneuropathies.

Abstract

The large degree of clinical heterogeneity within each of the major categories of inherited neuropathies can lead to difficulties in making correct diagnoses based on clinical findings alone. The observation of key clinical findings coupled with electrophysiological findings and understanding of inheritance patterns, should allow the clinician to make judicious use of genetic testing to confirm the clinical diagnosis. An understanding of the clinical and electrophysiological nature of these disorders, as well as an understanding of how to clinically distinguish the inherited conditions from acquired conditions, is imperative to this process.