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. 2023 Oct 1;29(5):1444-1468.
doi: 10.1212/CON.0000000000001343.

Toxic Neuropathies

Brendan L McNeish, Noah Kolb

Toxic Neuropathies

Brendan L McNeish et al. Continuum (Minneap Minn). .

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this article is to provide an overview and update on the most clinically relevant toxic neuropathies.

Latest developments: Broadly, toxic neuropathies were previously quite rare with the notable exception of neuropathy from alcohol or older chemotherapeutics. The development of newer therapies, particularly immunotherapy to treat malignancy, has resulted in a substantial increase in the occurrence of toxic neuropathies that require timely recognition and treatment. The understanding of other toxic neuropathies continues to evolve, such as statin-induced neuropathy, which new evidence suggests is much less common than previously suspected.

Essential points: Toxic neuropathies can be caused by medications, supplements, and recreational substances that injure peripheral nerves. Medications have evolved in the past 2 decades, as have the types of neuropathies that can be seen as related toxicities. In some areas of medicine, new classes and generations of drugs are associated with a lower incidence of toxic neuropathy.

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