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Acute bilateral brachial plexus neuritis associated with hypersensitivity vasculitis

A case report and review of literature

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Summary

The occurence of brachial plexus neuritis during the acute phase of vasculitis is uncommon. We describe a patient with a long history of rhinitis and a recent onset of asthma, who developed purpuric skin lesions, abdominal pain, eosinophilia and brachial neuritis along with evidence of sacral plexus neuropathy. High dose steroids and cyclophosphamide induced a remission. He stopped all medications after 3 years and after 6 years the patient has some fixed minimal residual neurological deficit. The importance of aggresive therapy in treating extensive polyneuropathy during the acute phase of hypersensitivity vasculitis is raised. A possible cytotoxic role of eosinophils in the pathological process is suggested.

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Abbreviations

CSF:

Cerebrospinal fluid

HBsAG:

Hepatitis B Surface antigen

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Raz, I., Leitersdorf, E. & Kleinman, Y. Acute bilateral brachial plexus neuritis associated with hypersensitivity vasculitis. Klin Wochenschr 63, 643–645 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01732860

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01732860

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