CLINICAL PROFILE OF PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHIES IN HOSPITAL SETTING OF KASHMIR, INDIA

Objective: To study the clinical profile of peripheral neuropathies in a tertiary care setting. Methods: 200 patients in the age group of 16-85 years were enrolled for the study. 50.5% of these belonged to middle age group. Besides usual demographic profile, detailed examination and relevant haematological and biochemical investigations, electro-diagnostic studies were conducted in all. Results: Apart from abnormalities on general physical and systemic examination, sensorimotor dysfunction was seen in 87% subjects, motor system abnormalities in 73.5%, hyporeflexia in 90%, thickened nerves in 3.5% and sensorimotor neuropathy was the commonest presentation found in 60.5% of the study subjects. Diabetic neuropathy was the commonest form (55% subjects) followed by Guillain-Barre syndrome (13% cases). Conclusion: Peripheral neuropathies are fairly common in population of Jammu and Kashmir. Diabetes mellitus is observed as the commonest cause. Future large sample studies are needed to demonstrate the scenario in more elaborate way.