Peripheral neuropathy associated with Castleman's disease

J Neurol Sci. 1989 Feb;89(2-3):253-67. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(89)90027-0.

Abstract

Four patients with polyneuropathy complicating the plasma cell variant of Castleman's disease (angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia) are described. The neuropathy was predominantly motor and severely disabling. Vasculopathy, papilloedema, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, oedema and paraproteinaemia were variably present in these patients. Sural nerve biopsy showed changes of both demyelination and axonal loss. Capillary proliferation and endothelial hypertrophy in the epineurium and endoneurium, similar to that seen in affected lymph nodes, suggested that a diffuse vasculopathy may contribute to the neuropathy. Serum antibody activity against a variety of neural antigen preparations was not detected in any of the patients. Two untreated patients died. Substantial improvement in the neuropathy occurred in the two patients treated with cyclophosphamide and prednisolone.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Castleman Disease / complications*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neural Conduction
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / etiology*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / pathology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology