83 – Neuropathies Associated with Infections

A variety of peripheral neuropathies occurs during the course of human infections or as parainfectious or post infectious syndromes. Direct cytopathic effects of the infectious agent, peripheral neurotoxicity mediated by dysregulated host immune responses to the infectious agent, and neurotoxicity from antimicrobial therapies are shared mechanisms underlying infection-related neuropathies. However, for most neuropathy syndromes, including those described in this chapter, the understanding of pathogenesis remains fragmentary. This chapter focuses on peripheral neuropathies occurring during infection and reviews the pathogenesis of selected infection- related neuropathies, some of historical and others of contemporary clinical interest. This chapter also reviews the present understanding of the pathogenesis of several infection related neuropathies, most of current clinical importance but others of historical and mechanistic relevance. Mechanisms of several additional infection-related disorders of nerve terminals and peripheral nerve have been summarized here in this chapter.