MULTIFOCAL MOTOR NEUROPATHY

Course overview

MULTIFOCAL MOTOR NEUROPATHY (MMN), ALSO CALLED MULTIFOCAL MOTOR NEUROPATHY WITH CONDUCTION BLOCK (MMNCB), IS A RARE, ACQUIRED, MOTOR NEUROPATHY CHARACTERIZED BY PROGRESSIVE ASYMMETRIC WEAKNESS WITHOUT SENSORY PROBLEMS. IT TYPICALLY INVOLVES UPPER LIMBS MORE THAN THE LOWER LIMBS. ELECTRODIAGNOSTIC STUDIES OFTEN REVEAL AN ASYMMETRIC MOTOR NEUROPATHY WITH CHARACTERISTIC CONDUCTION BLOCK. SERUM IGM ANTI-GANGLIOSIDE ANTIBODIES (ANTI-GM1) ARE PRESENT IN THE MAJORITY OF THE PATIENTS. THESE PATIENTS OFTEN HAVE A FAVORABLE RESPONSE TO INTRAVENOUS IMMUNOGLOBULIN (IVIG). THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF MULTIFOCAL MOTOR NEUROPATHY WITH CONDUCTION BLOCKS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE HEALTHCARE TEAM IN IMPROVING CARE FOR THE PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.