Diseases of multiple peripheral nerves simultaneously. Polyneuropathies usually are characterized by symmetrical, bilateral distal motor and sensory impairment with a graded increase in severity distally. The pathological processes affecting peripheral nerves include degeneration of the axon, myelin or both. The various forms of polyneuropathy are categorized by the type of nerve affected (e.g., sensory, motor, or autonomic), by the distribution of nerve injury (e.g., distal vs. proximal), by nerve component primarily affected (e.g., demyelinating vs. axonal), by etiology, or by pattern of inheritance.

Synonyms: Critical Illness Polyneuropathies, Polyneuropathies, Polyneuropathies, Motor, Polyneuropathies, Acquired, Critical Illness Polyneuropathy, Polyneuropathies, Familial, Polyneuropathy, Motor, Motor Polyneuropathy, Polyneuropathy, Polyneuropathy, Acquired, Familial Polyneuropathies, Inherited Polyneuropathies, Acquired Polyneuropathy, Polyneuropathies, Critical Illness, Polyneuropathy, Critical Illness, Polyneuropathy, Familial, Acquired Polyneuropathies, Motor Polyneuropathies, Polyneuropathies, Inherited, Polyneuropathy, Inherited, Familial Polyneuropathy, Inherited Polyneuropathy