A demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathy is a peripheral nerve dysfunction caused by loss of myelination around the axons of neurons. Demyelinating neuropathies cause motor, sensory, or autonomic symptoms. Demyelinating neuropathies affect large diameter axons first, initially producing motor weakness, loss of vibratory sensation, and decreased proprioception.
Demyelinating neuropathies may have an acute or chronic onset. Demyelination can be caused by autoimmune disease, toxins, drug side effects, nutritional deficiencies, infections, paraneoplastic syndromes, or congenital disorders. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is the most common cause of hereditary demyelinating polyneuropathy.
Age of onset and treatment vary according to the underlying cause of the neuropathy.
Demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathy
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis

Codes
ICD10CM:
G60.8 – Other hereditary and idiopathic neuropathies
SNOMEDCT:
230656003 – Demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathy
G60.8 – Other hereditary and idiopathic neuropathies
SNOMEDCT:
230656003 – Demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathy
Look For
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Axonal polyneuropathy (eg, acute motor axonal neuropathy)
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Uremic neuropathy
- Drug-induced neuropathy
- Radiculopathy (see lumbar radiculopathy, radiculomyelitis)
- Myelopathy
- Tabes dorsalis
- Vasculitis
- Poliomyelitis
- Autoimmune or inflammatory neuropathy (eg, neurosarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, cryoglobulinemia)
- Infectious neuropathy (eg, human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] neuropathy)
- Paraneoplastic neuropathy (eg, paraneoplastic autonomic neuropathy)
- Myositis (eg, inclusion body myositis)
- Myopathy (eg, steroid-induced myopathy)
- Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome
- Myasthenia gravis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Best Tests
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Management Pearls
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Therapy
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Drug Reaction Data
Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.
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References
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Last Reviewed:11/01/2018
Last Updated:04/27/2023
Last Updated:04/27/2023