Abstract

COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND DIABETIC PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, MECHANISM AND SYMPTOMATIC TREATMENTS

Apurwa Dhavale* and Hariprasad M. G.

ABSTRACT

Peripheral neuropathy which involves damage or degradation or loss of functionality of a nerve or nerves resulting into multiple troublesome symptoms such as pain, weakness, numbness and sometimes tingling in the affected parts of the body. It is one of the commonly induced additional illness in diabetic patients. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is one of the global health issue as large human population is affected by diabetic every year. Peripheral Neuropathy conditions in such patients further complicate the disease and impact physical and psychological health and overall well-being. One or multiple types of nerves in human body such as sensory, motor, autonomic may get affected. Unlike nerves in central nervous system, peripheral nerves have high regenerative potential due to plasticity of the Schwann cells. Epidemiologic studies of diabetic neuropathy have been performed. Various studies have used different methods of assessments on various patient populations, and with different definitions of neuropathy such as Confirmed, Probable or Possible DPN. Definite pathogenic mechanisms involved in the generation of DNP are not fully established but variety of potential factors have been postulated to elicit the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy. Symptomatic Pharmacotherapy to control the degradation of nerves involved and treat the painful or troublesome symptoms are available. However, there is huge research potential to identify definite preventive treatments or the drugs in the context of peripheral and diabetic peripheral neuropathies.

Keywords: Neuropathy, Peripheral neuropathy, Diabetic peripheral neuropathy, Schwann cells.