Acquired Neuropathies

There are many causes of acquired neuropathies:

• Trauma — e.g. sudden injury from an event such as a fall, car accident or sports activity.
• Infections—e.g. HIV, herpes virus and bacteria.
• autoimmune disorders —e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Systemic diseases — e.g. diabetes which is the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy.
• Medications and poisons
• Vascular disorders — e.g. inflammation, blood clots, or other blood vessel disorders.
• Vitamin imbalances — Lack of vitamins E, B complex and niacin.
• Acquired immune mediated neuropathies

The acquired immune mediated neuropathies can be divided into 2 major groups:

• Those with an acute onset and course - Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
• Those with a more chronic course - Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)

It is important to recognize acquired immune mediated neuropathies as they are generally responsive to immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapies.