sensory gaglioneuritis

    
      Re: sensory gaglioneuritis
    


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Posted by ccf neuro M.D. on May 25, 1997 at 22:48:22:

In Reply to: sensory gaglioneuritis posted by K Schulz on May 15, 1997 at 16:05:20:

: Please help me find some information on this disorder.
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Sensory ganglionitis or ganglioneuritis is a rare problem in which the sensory dorsal root ganglia, plus or minus nearby sensory nerve endings connecting to them (in which case the broader term ganglioneuritis applies) are damaged, usually as a result of inflammation provoked by one of a number of possible underlying illnesses. These may include HIV infection, cytomegalovirus infection (usually in conjunction with HIV), Varicella (chicken pox/shingles virus) infection, Sjogren's syndrome ( a so-called connective tissue disorder), or a paraneoplastic (cancer-related) problem. Sometimes the condition occurs with no known underlying problem in which case it is called "idiopathic". Up to 50% of cases may fall into this category. This condition, if severe enough, can be extremely disabling as it results in disruption of ALL sensory input from the nerve endings of the skin, bone, joints, and muscles into the body, causing the affected person to not only have problems sensing snd feeling things, but also to have no idea where their arms and legs are in extreme cases, which can result in the spontaneous random movement of th eaffected limb out of control of the person, a phenomenon sometimes known as alien hand syndrome. The prognosis for recovery from this disorder is generally poor, although if a treatble underlying disease process is discovered before irrversible damage occurs, it may be better. There is no easy source of additional information I can provide you with, as most such information consists of medical journal articles (which I have reviewed the abstracts of on your behalf) that are too complicated for most people to understand and are easily misinterpreted. I hope this general information is helpful to you.