Peripheral neuropathy electrophysiological screening in inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Peripheral neuropathy is often described in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to assess the need for neurophysiological testing in IBD patients without neurological symptoms or signs to detect early subclinical neuropathy and its possible correlations with clinical and demographic characteristics. Ninety-seven consecutive IBD patients were screened for neurological symptoms and clinical signs, and those without symptoms or signs were included. Also, patients with comorbidities associated with peripheral neuropathy or a history of neurological disease were excluded. The remaining 45 asymptomatic patients were tested electrophysiologically for peripheral nerve involvement. None of the examined patients showed evidence for subclinical neuropathy. IBD patients with a normal neurological clinical examination and no symptoms have no evidence for neuropathy. Therefore, proper electrophysiological testing is not considered necessary.