[Clinical aspects of polyneuropathies]

Polyneuropathic diseases can exhibit sensory, motor and autonomous symptoms. Subjective disorders and objective manifestations of polyneuropathies are characterized, the main clinical syndromes are described. Furthermore, different types of course and distribution can be distinguished. So far 162 etiological factors are known which correspond to 5 main groups of causes. Their relation to the clinical syndromes is discussed. For exact diagnosis in the individual case electrophysiological and bioptical investigations have to complete the spectrum of findings.