Causes
Many diseases and conditions can cause peripheral neuropathy. The damage may occur due to:
Diseases that can damage peripheral nerves include:
- Diabetes ( type 1 or type 2 )
- Alcoholism
- AIDS
- Lyme disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Uremia from chronic kidney failure
- Autoimmune disorders
- Hypothyroidism
- Viral infections (such as hepatitis )
Compression commonly occurs when nerves are pinched or trapped somewhere along their course, such as:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (nerve in the wrist)
- Sciatica (nerve roots forming the sciatic nerve in the back of the legs as they exit the spine)
Toxins that can damage the peripheral nerves include:
- Lead
- Mercury
- Thallium
- Organic solvents (hexacarbons)
- Pesticides (organophosphates)
- Carbon disulfide
- Arsenic
- Acrylamide
- Diphtheria toxin
- Alcohol
Many medications can lead to peripheral neuropathy. A partial list includes:
- Chemotherapeutic agents to treat cancer (eg, vincristine , paclitaxel , cisplatin , suramin)
- Anti-HIV medications (eg, didanosine , zalcitabine )
- Anti- tuberculosis medications (eg, isoniazid , ethambutol )
- Other antimicrobial drugs (eg, dapsone , metronidazole , chloroquine, chloramphenicol )
- Psychiatric medications (eg, lithium )
- Other medications (eg, amiodarone , aurothioglucose, phenytoin , thalidomide , colchicine , cimetidine , disulfiram , hydralazine , high levels of vitamin B6 )
Other causes of peripheral nerve damage include:
- Vitamin deficiencies ( thiamin and B12 deficiency , often related to alcoholism, and vitamin E deficiency)
- Injury
- A tumor pressing on a nerve
- Exposure to cold or radiation
- Leprosy
- Acute or chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy
- Porphyria
- Paraneoplatic syndromes
- Genetic disorders ( Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease , Dejerine-Sottas disease, and Refsum’s disease)
- Prolonged treatment in the intensive care unit
Risk Factors
These factors increase your chance of developing this condition. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:
- Diabetes (about 60% of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy)
- Alcohol abuse
- Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or celiac sprue
- Family member with peripheral neuropathy
- Exposure to toxins or medications known to cause neuropathy
- Vitamin deficiency (thiamin and vitamin B12)
- HIV infection
- Pressure on a nerve (may occur with repetitive stress injuries)
- Hospitalization treatment in the intensive care unit
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2024 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.