Sensory neuropathies and neuronopathies: an overview

Abstract

In recent years, it has been increasingly realized that certain disorders can single out primary sensory neurons as their principal targets. The result is dysfunction or ablation of primary modalities of sensation. Sensory tissue damage occurs by several mechanisms including toxin-induced effects (pyridoxine, taxol, cisplatin, doxorubicin), immune-mediated events (including paraneoplastic disorders, collagen-vascular disorders, perhaps monoclonal gammopathies) and genetically-determined diseases (such as hereditary sensory neuropathy types I, and II, and III, Fabry’s disease, and abetalipoproteinemia). In addition, many cases, either acute or chronic, are idiopathic in nature.