Common questions

What type of neuropathy is Charcot-Marie-Tooth?

What type of neuropathy is Charcot-Marie-Tooth?

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is also called hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease results in smaller, weaker muscles. You may also experience loss of sensation and muscle contractions, and difficulty walking. Foot deformities such as hammertoes and high arches also are common.

Which of the following is the most common gene mutation in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease?

CMT1 is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. CMT1 has been further subdivided into subtypes from CMT1A – 1F based on specific gene abnormalities. CMT1A is by far the most common single subtype of CMT accounting for around 50% of all cases of CMT and is caused by a duplication of the PMP22 gene.

How do you fix CMT feet?

Most patients who have moderate to severe CMT disease can be helped with surgery. Clawed toes can be straightened, high arched feet can be flattened, and unstable ankles can be tightened. Many patients are wary of having surgery because of misconceptions of what is involved.

Does Charcot-Marie-Tooth affect the immune system?

The pathophysiology in such patients has not yet been elucidated. However, the involvement of the immune system in the development of demyelination in CMT was established by experimental animal studies, and vulnerability to immune abnormalities is suggested in abnormal myelin.

What causes foot deformities in CMT?

Over time, the bones around the joint shift into abnormal positions. For example, as muscles that lift the foot at the ankle become weak, muscles that lower and curl the foot downward contract and tighten, causing the most common type of foot deformity — a shortened foot with a pes cavus.

What do claw toes look like?

There are several signs of claw toe: Your toes are bent upward (extension) from the joints at the ball of the foot. Your toes are bent downward (flexion) at the middle joints toward the sole of your shoe. Sometimes your toes also bend downward at the top joints, curling under the foot.

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Ruth Doyle