VASCULITIC NEUROPATHY - 8 YEARS FOLLOW-UP STUDY ON PATIENTS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL

International literature doesn't succeed in clarifing both clinical features and epidemiologic importance of isolated and nonisolated (associated with a systemic disease) vasculitic neuropathy. During a three years period (1990–1993), 284 patients affected by peripheric nervous system disease were admitted, as Day Hospital patients or like ordinary hospitalization, into the III Clinic of Neurologic Science Department at “La Sapienza” University-Rome. Seventy-two patients in our group were affected by polineuropathy. From an epidemiologic point of view, only 5–6% of population conformed with vasculitic polineuropathy diagnostic criteria; this percentage comprises equally systemic and isolated vasculopathy. After first admission, patients underwent clinical and instrumental checks through which modifications of nosographic classification were recordered. At the end of the study period, in 1998, 13.8% of patients had a vasculitic neuropathy diagnosis expressed: 70% during systemic disease, 30% as isolated vasculopathy of peripheral nervous system. Simultaneously with the increase of vasculitic neuropathy, we noted a considerable decrease of cryptogenetic neuropathies, the incidence of which changed from 30% to 22%. Diagnostic evaluations more suitable for nosographic change seem to be: Clinical and Neurophysiological monitoring Sierologic and cerebral spinal fluid monitoring Histologic examination of the nerve Evaluation of systemic involvment and of its peculiar features that, in our experience, is frequently difficult to frame. Our results do not differ greatly from those found in international literature and confirm the need of a detailed follw up for a proper nosographic classification.