Chronic Cryptogenic Sensory Polyneuropathy

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Abstract
ACQUIRED chronic sensory-predominant polyneuropathies (PNs) are common in middle and late adulthood, with an estimated prevalence of more than 3%.1 Most are secondary to readily identifiable causes, such as diabetes. However, once known causes are excluded, a sizable minority remain idiopathic. The cryptogenic group was thought to compose as much as 50% to 70% of PN cases in early series2,3 and even in 1 recent report.4 Recent studies5-8 have revised this number down to 10% to 35%. Likely reasons for the declining percentage include better recognition of hereditary neuropathies,8 recognition of immune-mediated neuropathies,9 causes becoming apparent over time,3 and the development of more sophisticated diagnostic approaches.