Biomedical Frontiers: Winter/Spring 1996, Vol.3, No.2
Clinical Applications
Help forPeripheral Neuropathy

More than 1 million people in this country are affected by peripheral neuropathy, a disorder of the peripheral nervous system characterized by muscle weakness and numbness, tingling, or pain in the extremities. Now, the new Peripheral Neuropathy Comprehensive Care Center offers an integrated approach to the treatment of this disorder. The center is the first major one in New York and one of only a few in the nation.

"The concept of a fully integrated center that puts research clinics and patients together is important," says Dr. Norman Latov, the center's medical director. "CPMC is well-suited to do this because of our background." CPMC is one of the leading institutions on the research of neuropathies. For instance, CPMC researchers first identified a class of autoantibodies that cause peripheral neuropathies, and have licensed assays for detecting such autoantibodies. Approximately one-fourth of all peripheral neuropathies are due to autoimmune disease. Research is now continuing on investigating the causes of the one-third of cases that are unexplained. In addition, this summer the center will begin a clinical trial in collaboration with the NIH, investigating the use of intravenous gamma globulins for diabetic neuropathies.

"The peripheral neuropathy center is the first major center in New York and one of only a few in the nation."

There are many known causes of neuropathies. Diabetes, alcohol abuse, and malnutrition are the most common. To treat the wide range of causes involved, the center is staffed by experts in pain management, electrophysiology, physical therapy, peripheral nerve surgery, and rehabilitation medicine.

The Peripheral Neuropathy Comprehensive Care Center is located at Columbia-Presbyterian/Eastside, 16 E. 60th St.