Introduction: Anaemia is a common disorder among Indian population. Peripheral neuropathy though more common among diabetics is also found to be relatively more common among anaemic patients. Nutritional anaemia and anaemia due to chronic diseases are more commonly associated with peripheral neuropathy.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among the outpatients and inpatients in Tagore Medical College, Rathinamangalam between December 2017 – December 2018. Patients have their history taken according to a questionnaire and subjected to clinical examination. A questionnaire was used to assess peripheral neuropathy.

Results: This study involved 50 patients with anaemia presenting with peripheral neuropathic symptoms. All Patients having chronic kidney disease had peripheral neuropathic symptoms involving all 4 limbs. anaemic patients due to other causes predominantly had neuropathic symptoms involving both the lower limbs. Among these population 30 patients (60%) had haemoglobin less than 7g/dl. 15 among them had haemoglobin less than 5g/dl. 20 patients had haemoglobin greater than 7g/dl.

Conclusion: The above study shows a strong correlation among anaemic patients and development of peripheral neuropathy. Patients with iron deficiency had greater risk of developing neuropathic symptoms more involving the lower limbs. Chronic kidney disease patients however had involvement of all four limbs. Large study populations are required to substantiate these findings in near future.

Keywords: Macrocytic Anaemia, Peripheral neuropathy, Iron Deficiency Anaemia.

1. Looker AC, Dallman PR, Carroll MD, Gunter EW, Johnson CL. Prevalence of iron deficiency in the United States. JAMA 1997; 277: 973–76.
2. Cook J. The nutritional assessment of iron status. Arch Latinoam Nutr 1999; 49: 11–14.
3. Schwartz E. Iron deficiency anemia. In: Behrman RE, Kliegman MR, Arvin MA (eds), Textbook of Pediatrics, 15th edn. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1996; 1387–89.
4. Youdim MBH. Neuropharmacological and neurobiochemical aspects of iron deficiency. In: Dobbing J (ed.), Brain Behaviour and Iron in the Infant Diet. Springer-Verlag, London, 1990; 83–106.
5. Olivares M. Walter T, Hertrampf E, Pizarro F. Anaemia and iron deficiency disease in children. Br Med Bull 1999; 55: 534–43.
6. DeMaeyer E, Adiels-Tegman M. The prevalence of anemia in the world. World Health Stat Q 1985; 302–16.
7. El-Sebae AH, Soliman SA, Ahmed NS. Delayed neuropathy in sheep by the phosphonothioate insecticide cyanofenphos. J Environ Sci Health 1979; 14: 247–63.
8. Lozoff B, Jimenez E, Wolf AW. Long-term developmental outcome of infants with iron deficiency. N Engl J Med 1991; 325: 687–94.
9. Idjradinata P, Pollitt E. Reversal of developmental delays in iron-deficient anaemic infants treated with iron. Lancet 1993; 341: 1–4.
10. Cornblath DR. The electrophysiology of axonal and demyeli- nating polyneuropathies. Baillière’s Clin Neurol 1996; 5: 107–13.

Dr K. B. Prasanna

Associate Professor of Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital, Rathinamangalam, Chennai -600127, India