Peripheral neuropathy associated with polycythemia vera.

Nerve conduction studies were performed on 26 patients with polycythemia vera, 11 of whom had sensory symptoms in the extremities and 3 of whom had clinical signs of peripheral neuropathy. There was significant impairment of sensory conduction in the ulnar and sural nerves and mild slowing of motor conduction in the lateral popliteal nerve. Sural nerve biopsies were performed on three patients. The pathological findings, including teased fiber studies, were consistent with mild chronic axonal degeneration. There is an association between polycythemia vera and peripheral neuropathy.