[Correlation of symptoms and clinical findings in polyneuropathy]

A scoring system for neuropathic symptoms (neuropathic symptom score) and signs (neurologic disability score) has been applied on 30 patients with polyneuropathy. Vibration sense thresholds were also measured by vibrametry. A statistically significant association between the neuropathic symptom score and the neurologic disability score was demonstrated. Disability scores expressing sensory items were significantly associated with vibration threshold on the index finger and even stronger with that on the big toe, which also correlated well with the sum of the patients' neuropathy deficits (total neurologic disability score). We recommend that registration of neurologic disability score in particular and if possible also vibrametry (and other quantitative sensory tests) are performed in the primary evaluation of patients with polyneuropathy, and especially in subsequent examinations to clinically monitor the patients.