British Peripheral Nerve Society Founded 2003

Sent on behalf of John Winer, BPNS Hon Sec

Dear BPNS members

Below is the questionnaire that was discussed at the last BPNS meeting.
Dr Ali and Karen Stevens would be very grateful for you help in filling it out.

Approximately twenty percent of patients referred for the investigation of polyneuropathy will remain idiopathic despite extensive and expensive investigative tests. At what point should the diagnosis of chronic idiopathic polyneuropathy be made? Moreover, in those that are diagnosed with a chronic idiopathic axonal neuropathy, how should they be managed - is a therapeutic trial appropriate and what is best in terms of follow up? Several studies have assessed the diagnostic work up of peripheral neuropathy looking at consecutive patients at specific centres. Prospective studies looking at follow up of chronic idiopathic polyneuropathy patients have also been performed. However, there has been no study comparing the practice of different neurologists - peripheral nerve/neuromuscular specialists, non specialists and junior ABN trainees - in different centres. This is what this study proposes to do.

Further to our presentation at the BPNS meeting in October, we have set up an online questionnaire to investigate the diagnosis and further management of patients with chronic idiopathic polyneuropathy by peripheral nerve specialists, general neurologists and junior ABN trainees The ABN have included it in their monthly newsletter and we have several responses already. However, we would be very grateful if you would email it to the BPNS members in the hope of getting more responses from peripheral nerve/neuromuscular specialists.

We would be very grateful if you would help us complete it by filling in the questionnaire online.

Many thanks and best wishes

Dr Karen Stevens (Foundation Year 2)
Dr Ali Almemar (Peripheral Nerve Specialist)