Health
Neuropathy guidelines issued
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 22, 2008
A combination of blood tests and other specialized assessments appears to help determine the cause of neuropathy, according to new guidelines published online Dec. 3 in Neurology.
Neuropathy affects one in 50 people in the general population and one in 12 older than 55, according to the American Academy of Neurology. Diabetes is the most common cause.
"There are many people with a neuropathy who have been walking around for years without having been diagnosed and treated," said guidelines author John D. England, MD, chair of the Neurology Dept. at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.
The guidelines recommend screening tests, especially blood glucose, vitamin B12 level and serum protein levels. A combination of autonomic tests and skin biopsies also may be helpful.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/12/22/hlbf1222.htm.
