Peripheral polyneuropathy and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance

The prevalence of peripheral polyneuropathy in patients with monoclonal gammopathy is known to be higher than in the general population. A prevalence as high as that in the series of Osby et al, who found clinical and/or electrophysiological evidence compatible with peripheral polyneuropathy in 15 of 21 patients has not been reported before. These results could not be confirmed in a study in which 19 patients with benign monoclonal gammopathy were investigated. In contrast there were only two patients with questionable evidence of peripheral neuropathy: one had lower limb symptoms and signs only, the other had evidence of a subclinical polyneuropathy with some abnormalities of nerve conduction.