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## Meet the editor

Dr. Bozzetto Ambrosi completed her neurology and neurosurgery training at the Hospital da Restauracao, Recife, Brazil, in 2008 followed by specialization in medical imaging and diagnostic and therapeutic neuroradiology at Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris, France, respectively, in 2011 and 2014. She was previously a visiting professor at Beaujon University Hospital in Paris, France. Dr. Ambrosi is dedicated, driven, and

passionate about providing the highest standard of service for patients. She has extensive experience of working in a wide range of prestigious neurological and neuroscience centers all over the world with more than 20 years of rich experience in medical assistance, research, and development, as well as teaching and mentoring in the field of neurology. She has excellent communication and writing skills, with a keen interest in new technologies, research, and publication in neurosciences. She is proficient in several languages and has experience in peer reviewing and editorship in the medical field covering various topics in national and international journals. Her expertise is in identifying the best strategy, integrating teamwork, and executing work with a strong determination based on knowledge. She has excellent presentation and interpersonal skills with proven abilities in teaching and training for various academic and professional appointments. Presently, she is an independent consultant and professor in neurology/neuroradiology and neurosurgery.

Contents

**Section 1**

*and José A. Vega*

**Section 2**

Condition

**Section 3**

*by Gökhan Özdemir*

*and Diego Delgado*

**Preface III**

General Considerations and Diagnostic Approach **1**

**Chapter 1 3**

Etiologies and Pathogenesis **19**

**Chapter 2 21**

**Chapter 3 33**

**Chapter 4 49** Working Hand Syndrome: A New Definition of Nonclassified Polyneuropathy

Management and New Clinical Applications **59**

**Chapter 5 61**

Platelet-Rich Plasma for Injured Peripheral Nerves: Biological Repair Process

*Pello Sánchez, Jorge Guadilla, Beatriz Aizpurua, Juan Azofra, Nicolás Fiz* 

*by Mikel Sánchez, Ane Garate, Ane Miren Bilbao, Jaime Oraa, Fernando Yangüela,* 

The Cutaneous Biopsy for the Diagnosis of Peripheral Neuropathies:

*by Olivia García-Suárez, Yolanda García-Mesa, Jorge García-Piqueras, Giuseppina Salvo, Juan L. Cobo, Elda Alba, Ramón Cobo, Jorge Feito* 

*by Fitri Octaviana, Ahmad Yanuar Safri, Darma Imran and Patricia Price*

Meissner's Corpuscles and Merkel's Cells

HIV-Associated Sensory Neuropathy

and Clinical Application Guidelines

Peripheral Neuropathy in Connective Tissue Diseases *by Mouna Snoussi, Faten Frikha and Zouhir Bahloul*

## Contents


Preface

Polyneuropathy is a distinct term for a generalized and relatively homogenous process that affects many peripheral nerves, but it is the distal nerves that are generally more affected by the disorder at large. It also commonly encompasses any disturbance of the peripheral nervous system, including radiculopathies and mononeuropathies and/or disorders involving the nerves of the central and peripheral nervous system. In daily practice, the wide variety of causes must be identified in obtaining a diagnosis and polyneuropathies should be differentiated from other diseases of the peripheral nervous system, including mononeuropathies and multiplex mononeuropathy (multifocal neuropathy) and some disorders of the central nervous system. Central nervous system diseases such as brain tumor, stroke, or spinal cord injury occasionally present symptoms that are difficult to distinguish

The complex structure and function of nerves of the nervous system make them susceptible to a variety of inflammatory, hereditary, infectious, toxicity, and other factors that can impair their health and function, leading to the clinical disorder of polyneuropathy. Although there is a lack of population-based studies, researchers generally agree that no specific cause is identified in up to half of cases of patients

There are no simple rules one can apply to reliably distinguish the type of polyneuropathy produced by various disease categories (e.g., demyelinating versus axonal, chronic versus acute, and sensory versus motor). The interest in more reliable instruments to apply to diseases involving nerves of the nervous system has become

polyneuropathy. Regarding its management, although several procedures involving conservative and surgical interventions are available, promising biological strategies are needed to open new horizons so the drawbacks of these challenging condi-

a significant part of the full investigation to clarify the etiologic diagnosis of

Knowledge about polyneuropathy has advanced on all fronts, significantly, through education and inspirational leadership. Contributors to this first edition of *Demystifying Polyneuropathy - Recent Advances and New Directions* are many of these leaders, and their writing and creativity are remarkable. The authors are practitioners and researchers with an inestimable amount of experience, and they share their knowledge and wisdom, seeking not only to teach but also to inspire those who will follow them. They point out not only what we already know but also what we need to discover, thereby directing a path toward observation, service, and experimentation, each of which is integral to the study of polyneuropathy in imminent

As editor, and on behalf of the authors and assistants, I extend my gratitude to the publisher for striking visual content to help create a comprehensive book, complete with unique topic selections, so that the blend of academic and other content is at once logical and stimulating. At this point, I am enormously grateful to the extraordinary team at IntechOpen, including Edi Lipović, Mirena Calmić, and

with polyneuropathy at referral centers despite deeper investigations.

from polyneuropathies.

tions may be overcome.

and future directions.
