Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune Disease-related nerve damage
Autoimmune disease, in which your immune system attacks and damages parts of your body, including your nerves. Examples include Sjögren’s syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease. Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disease that happens rapidly and can affect autonomic nerves.
8%
Autoimmune diseases affect an estimated 8% of the global population
50%
In some cases, up to 50-60% of patients with these autoimmune diseases may experience peripheral neuropathy
Women
Women are more likely to develop autoimmune diseases than men.
Autoimmune with no specific causal infectious agent identified:
Guillain-Barré Syndrome / Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (AIDP)
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
Associated with hepatitis
Behçet disease
Scleroderma
Inflammatory bowel diseases
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)
Psoriasis / Psoriatic arthritis
Sjögren’s Syndrome
Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN)
Peripheral Neuropathy Associated with Protein Abnormalities
Tests
(Not all evaluation and tests may be necessary)
- Comprehensive foot exam
- Physical examination
- Neurological exam
- Electromyography
- Nerve conduction velocity test
- Quantitive sensory testing (QST)
- Nerve or skin biopsy
- Blood studies (to verify diabetes (e.g., HbA1C) and to rule out other potential causes)
Treatments
(Not all treatments and therapies may be indicated)
The goal of treatment for diabetic neuropathy is to relieve discomfort and to prevent further tissue damage. The first step is to bring blood sugar levels under control by diet and medication. Another important part of treatment involves taking special care of the feet.
- Over-the-counter pain medication for mild pain
- For severe pain, take over-the-counter pain medication or prescription drugs used for peripheral neuropathy, on a regular basis—rather than waiting until nighttime when symptoms can become more severe
- Keep blood sugar levels in normal range
- Get regular exercise
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Antidepressants (for pain relief)
- Foot care: inspect your feet daily for injuries
- Special Therapeutic shoes (which may be covered by Medicare and other insurance)
- Take safety measures to compensate for loss of sensation
Resource library
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