Are all autoimmune neuropathies inflammatory?
What are some types of polyneuropathy that are not inflammatory besides toxic damage ... or maybe that sets one into an inflammatory state?

Just confused here after reading in another thread about steroids being a good way to know the difference.

I tried a medrol dose pack and on the third morning I was told to stop because I was shaking, hadn't slept for two nights, and had stomach pain. I guess I'll never know if mine is inflammatory.
I do know that ibuprofen or naproxen does not touch my body pain, but for some reason tylenol will help a little. Does that point to anything?

--but not all, as it depends on what pathways and mechanisms the autoimmune attack is taking.

There are plenty of autoimmune attacks on nerves with autoantibodies specific to components of peripheral nerve in which the usual inflammatory markers can be quite within the normal range, as the autoimmune attack is quite specific to those components and usually has few, if any, more systemic effects (although obviously damage to nerve has widespread consequences to one's functionality). These can be contrasted to the more global autoimmune attacks associated with such conditions as the anti-nuclear antibody associated vasculopathies and connective tissue disorders (i.e., lupus, polyarteritis, scleroderma) in which the neuropathy is secondary to the autoimmune attack, often through cross-reactivity.

Interesting topic. Neuro who made my EMG said in description it's probably of inflammatory and compressive nature
He wasn't really interested in digging up further, I got second option and full blood work done with ANA and ANCA turned out negative
I guess there are other markers that can be taken into account still?
Or just trial with steroids to see if it's improving?
What else can you check in blood work to know?

NSAID won't touch my pain either

According to the team at Columbia, this is the category that they put me into. Would that be considered inflammatory or not?

Also, I don't know if they were right because the only thing they could find was the low bp and high ANA. My daughter who is having the same symptoms has a completely normal ANA, so my high ANA could have been throwing them off since they had nothing else to go on besides nerve damage.

Just so frustrated.

--of the anti-nuclear antibody--specifically, the vasculopathies and connective tissue disorders (this is a very broad group of disorders that includes lupus, polyarteritis, Sjogrens, Bechet's, others) are certainly considered inflammatory conditions, as the autoimmune attacks here are systemic and affect multiple tissue types, though not always the same types--different antibody and cytokine combinations do have preferences for some tissue types over others, in general, which is why the syndromes are at least somewhat distinguishable, thought there are overlaps, and there is "mixed connective tissue disease".--see:

http://neuromuscular.wustl.edu/antib...tml#vasculitis

Of course, these are hardly the only things that cause inflammation in the body--pure old traumatic injury does too (and compression is a type of traumatic injury), as do certain toxins.

In general, anything that alerts the immune system is likely to cause an inflammatory response, though the strength of it varies depending on what pathways are activated.

And, as noted, some autoimmune responses are so specific they may occur without noted rises in the usual inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein.

I appreciate all this You are awesome!

Does high ANA necessarily mean inflammatory?
I have no other markers of inflammation, just nerve damage so that would mean the response is very specific. My nerves are affecting my vascular system. I'm learning so much these days.

Also, through out this entire ordeal I have NEVER had an elevated body temp even in the days I could barely move. Isn't a fever classic for the autoimmune diseases bad enough to cause nervous system damage?

I also thought that since naproxen and ibuprofen have no effect whatsoever on my pain, that maybe would be indicative of whether my issue is inflammatory.

Also, my 12 year old who has the most symptoms compared to me has a completely normal ANA, so that is curious.

The whole thing is curious. I just can't see why the doctors aren't interested in even trying to solve this. Other than spending 15 min and checking off a few boxes on a lab requisition, they really don't even give it a second thought.

Afaik high ANA should indicate autoimmune, but it's very non specific, so other tests should be ordered
Did they talked to you about it?

My both ANA and ANCA were low, c protein was absolute 0, same rheumatoid factor
I'll talk to my next doctor if he things we can check more things, but in your case I would push them for more tests


I feel your frustration! My first neuro just made an EMG in his office and that was it
I met another neuro the other day, he checked my reflexes, sense of vibration etc that are apparently prefect and ordered full blood panel but after they all came back fine he offered no solution and I think had no clue how to precede

I'm in a country where health standard it's not really high, but I think issue is universal
I'm going back to my home country in few weeks and I've scheduled appointments with apparently very good neurologist, so fingers crossed he would be willing to look for answers

I think you need to dig further up and find a doctor that knows what to do and cares!

My neuro put me on a high dose of steroids for one week .this had no effect on my neuropathy. He has now offered ivig as even though the steroids didn't work he still thinks it's inflammatory due to the nld presentation and the fact the skin biopsy showed inflamed nerves rather than a loss of nerve fibres. My pain has come back as was in remission for a long time. I hAve been under a lot of stress so I'm sure this is linked so hoping just a flare.

Well at least he is going to try.
Most neuros wouldn't be that motivated.
Good luck. Let us know how it goes.