Acute predominantly sensory neuropathy.

An account is given of an unusual patient with acute sensory neuropathy, leading within a few weeks to almost generalized sensory loss. Generalized sensory deficits were involved in the face, tongue, and palate. He had a drug allergy from chemotherapy during an early stage of illness. An albuminocytological dissociation of the cerebrospinal fluid was noted in a few months. A sural nerve biopsy after 2 months showed a marked reduction of fibers, and extensive invasion of phagocytes throughout the endoneurium. This patient recovered poorly with profound sensory ataxia of the limbs and tongue. A possible explanation for the clinico-pathological findings may be that acute idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis (Guillain-Barré syndrome) and toxic neuropathy exert an etiological role in the extramedullary sensory system.