末梢神経障害（しびれ）—神経・筋疾患の「総合診療科」としての役割

Peripheral Neuropathy (Numbness): Role of Neurologists as Primary Gatekeepers

末梢神経疾患の有病率は年々上昇しており，この10年で複数の末梢神経疾患に対して新しい治療法が出現した。末梢神経障害に関する「医中誌」掲載文献を報告した最多の診療科は整形外科で，二番手が脳神経内科であった。特に脳神経内科からはこの10年で増加していた。一方，依然としてcommonな末梢神経疾患の患者が脳神経内科を受診しておらず，神経・筋疾患の「総合診療科」としての立場をより前面に出していくべきである。

Abstract

The prevalence of peripheral neuropathies has increased over the years, and novel treatments for management of several neuropathies have emerged over the past decade. Following a literature search of the ICHUSHI database, we observed that recent literature on peripheral neuropathy most frequently includes reports from the orthopedic specialty, followed by studies reported by the neurology service. Notably, the number of studies reported by the neurology departments has increased over the past decade. However, most patients with common peripheral neuropathies do not visit the neurology department. Therefore, it is necessary to highlight the role of neurologists for comprehensive evaluation and management of neuromuscular disorders. This may result in acknowledgement of neurology as the primary gatekeeper of peripheral neurological diseases.