Quiz Form

Question Date: 10/07/2023

Question: Which of these neuropathies is not a nodopathy?

Options:

• Vasculitic neuropathy
• Acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN)
• Thiamine deficiency
• Critical illness polyneuropathy

Correct Answer: Vasculitic neuropathy

Explaination: Nodopathies are due to pathologies that target the proteins or ion channels in the node of ranvier. The best example is the AMAN (Acute motor axonal neuropathy) variant of GBS. The autoantibodies target the node of ranvier in the distal nerve terminals causing conduction failure which mimics axonal loss. Miller fisher syndrome, Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), certain variants of CIDP (Neurofascin-155, Contactin-1 antibody) have been shown to be nodopathies. In critical illness polyneuropathy, nitric oxide mediated dysfunction of the Na-K ATPase pump at the node of ranvier was seen. In Beri-beri neuropathy, thiamine deficiency led to decreased Na/K pump activity and conduction failure. This explained the rapid recovery after thiamine supplementation.

Reference: Uncini A, Kuwabara S. Nodopathies of the peripheral nerve: an emerging concept. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry 2015;86:1186-1195.