[Ulcero-multilating acropathy]

A case of a 46 years old male suffering from chronic sensory neuropathy is reported. The symptoms consisted of superficial and deep sensory disturbances, and bilateral trophic plantar ulcerations with osteolysis, resulting in a deformity of the feet. There was an increased sweating of the distal portions of the four limbs, and a delayed adaptation of blood pressure and heart frequency to postural changes. CSF aminoacids were all increased except taurine, which was markedly descreased. An increased blood flow in lower extremities was demonstrated angiographically. The possibilities of pharmacological and surgical treatment raised by the hemodynamic hypothesis of BUREAU and BARRIERE (1957) are discussed.