Clinical characteristics and prognosis of vasculitic mononeuropathy multiplex.

The initial appearance and course of 19 patients with mononeuropathy multiplex due to systemic vasculitis were evaluated. Neuropathy first occurred within one year of the onset of systemic vasculitis in all patients and within one year of the onset of rheumatoid arthritis in four of nine patients. Concurrent cutaneous arteritic lesions and elevated ESRs occurred more frequently in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than in those without it. The overall six-month and five-year survival rates were approximately 80% and 60%, respectively. Significant nerve improvement was noted in 86% of surviving patients after one year. There were no factors at initial appearance predictive of outcome.