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Wallerian degeneration

MedGen UID:
12132
•Concept ID:
C0043020
•
Cell or Molecular Dysfunction
Synonym: Wallerian degeneration of the pyramidal tract
SNOMED CT: Wallerian degeneration (36161006); Secondary degeneration (36161006)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0043280

Definition

A condition caused by degeneration, atrophy, and destruction of the distal part of a nerve fiber''s axon and myelin, when continuity with the neural cell nucleus has been severed due to injury. Signs and symptoms include muscle weakness, altered sensation, and limb numbness. [from NCI]

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Bilateral middle cerebellar peduncle lesions: Neuroimaging features and differential diagnoses.
Jiang J, Wang J, Lin M, Wang X, Zhao J, Shang X
Brain Behav 2020 Oct;10(10):e01778. Epub 2020 Aug 5 doi: 10.1002/brb3.1778. PMID: 32755074Free PMC Article
Percutaneous Neurolysis for Pain Management in Oncological Patients.
Filippiadis DK, Tselikas L, Tsitskari M, Kelekis A, de Baere T, Ryan AG
Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2019 Jun;42(6):791-799. Epub 2019 Feb 19 doi: 10.1007/s00270-019-02185-x. PMID: 30783779
Differential diagnosis of T2 hyperintense brainstem lesions: Part 2. Diffuse lesions.
Guzmán-De-Villoria JA, Ferreiro-Argüelles C, Fernández-García P
Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2010 Jun;31(3):260-74. doi: 10.1053/j.sult.2010.03.002. PMID: 20483393

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

New insights into peripheral nerve regeneration: The role of secretomes.
Contreras E, Bolívar S, Navarro X, Udina E
Exp Neurol 2022 Aug;354:114069. Epub 2022 Apr 6 doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114069. PMID: 35398149
Diffuse axonal injury predicts neurodegeneration after moderate-severe traumatic brain injury.
Graham NSN, Jolly A, Zimmerman K, Bourke NJ, Scott G, Cole JH, Schott JM, Sharp DJ
Brain 2020 Dec 1;143(12):3685-3698. doi: 10.1093/brain/awaa316. PMID: 33099608
Bilateral middle cerebellar peduncle lesions: Neuroimaging features and differential diagnoses.
Jiang J, Wang J, Lin M, Wang X, Zhao J, Shang X
Brain Behav 2020 Oct;10(10):e01778. Epub 2020 Aug 5 doi: 10.1002/brb3.1778. PMID: 32755074Free PMC Article
Peripheral Nerve Injuries: Electrophysiology for the Neurosurgeon.
Kamble N, Shukla D, Bhat D
Neurol India 2019 Nov-Dec;67(6):1419-1422. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.273626. PMID: 31857526
Nerve physiology: mechanisms of injury and recovery.
Menorca RM, Fussell TS, Elfar JC
Hand Clin 2013 Aug;29(3):317-30. doi: 10.1016/j.hcl.2013.04.002. PMID: 23895713Free PMC Article

Diagnosis

Diffuse axonal injury predicts neurodegeneration after moderate-severe traumatic brain injury.
Graham NSN, Jolly A, Zimmerman K, Bourke NJ, Scott G, Cole JH, Schott JM, Sharp DJ
Brain 2020 Dec 1;143(12):3685-3698. doi: 10.1093/brain/awaa316. PMID: 33099608
Peripheral Nerve Injuries: Electrophysiology for the Neurosurgeon.
Kamble N, Shukla D, Bhat D
Neurol India 2019 Nov-Dec;67(6):1419-1422. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.273626. PMID: 31857526
Acute traumatic central cord syndrome: a comprehensive review.
Molliqaj G, Payer M, Schaller K, Tessitore E
Neurochirurgie 2014 Feb-Apr;60(1-2):5-11. Epub 2014 Mar 7 doi: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2013.12.002. PMID: 24613283
Differential diagnosis of T2 hyperintense brainstem lesions: Part 2. Diffuse lesions.
Guzmán-De-Villoria JA, Ferreiro-Argüelles C, Fernández-García P
Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2010 Jun;31(3):260-74. doi: 10.1053/j.sult.2010.03.002. PMID: 20483393
Diagnosis, natural history, and management of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Pareyson D, Marchesi C
Lancet Neurol 2009 Jul;8(7):654-67. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(09)70110-3. PMID: 19539237

Therapy

Diffuse Axonal Injury and Oxidative Stress: A Comprehensive Review.
Frati A, Cerretani D, Fiaschi AI, Frati P, Gatto V, La Russa R, Pesce A, Pinchi E, Santurro A, Fraschetti F, Fineschi V
Int J Mol Sci 2017 Dec 2;18(12) doi: 10.3390/ijms18122600. PMID: 29207487Free PMC Article
Acute traumatic central cord syndrome: a comprehensive review.
Molliqaj G, Payer M, Schaller K, Tessitore E
Neurochirurgie 2014 Feb-Apr;60(1-2):5-11. Epub 2014 Mar 7 doi: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2013.12.002. PMID: 24613283
Diagnosis, natural history, and management of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Pareyson D, Marchesi C
Lancet Neurol 2009 Jul;8(7):654-67. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(09)70110-3. PMID: 19539237
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Malik B, Stillman M
Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2008 Jan;8(1):56-65. doi: 10.1007/s11910-008-0010-5. PMID: 18367040
Neuropathic pain.
Koltzenburg M, Scadding J
Curr Opin Neurol 2001 Oct;14(5):641-7. doi: 10.1097/00019052-200110000-00014. PMID: 11562577

Prognosis

Diffuse axonal injury predicts neurodegeneration after moderate-severe traumatic brain injury.
Graham NSN, Jolly A, Zimmerman K, Bourke NJ, Scott G, Cole JH, Schott JM, Sharp DJ
Brain 2020 Dec 1;143(12):3685-3698. doi: 10.1093/brain/awaa316. PMID: 33099608
Peripheral Nerve Injuries: Electrophysiology for the Neurosurgeon.
Kamble N, Shukla D, Bhat D
Neurol India 2019 Nov-Dec;67(6):1419-1422. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.273626. PMID: 31857526
Tracking posttraumatic hemianopia.
Decramer T, Van Keer K, Stalmans P, Dupont P, Sunaert S, Theys T
J Neurol 2018 Jan;265(1):41-45. Epub 2017 Nov 6 doi: 10.1007/s00415-017-8661-2. PMID: 29110092
Wallerian Degeneration Beyond the Corticospinal Tracts: Conventional and Advanced MRI Findings.
Chen YJ, Nabavizadeh SA, Vossough A, Kumar S, Loevner LA, Mohan S
J Neuroimaging 2017 May;27(3):272-280. Epub 2016 Nov 7 doi: 10.1111/jon.12404. PMID: 28072502
Diagnosis, natural history, and management of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Pareyson D, Marchesi C
Lancet Neurol 2009 Jul;8(7):654-67. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(09)70110-3. PMID: 19539237

Clinical prediction guides

Diffuse axonal injury predicts neurodegeneration after moderate-severe traumatic brain injury.
Graham NSN, Jolly A, Zimmerman K, Bourke NJ, Scott G, Cole JH, Schott JM, Sharp DJ
Brain 2020 Dec 1;143(12):3685-3698. doi: 10.1093/brain/awaa316. PMID: 33099608
Bilateral middle cerebellar peduncle lesions: Neuroimaging features and differential diagnoses.
Jiang J, Wang J, Lin M, Wang X, Zhao J, Shang X
Brain Behav 2020 Oct;10(10):e01778. Epub 2020 Aug 5 doi: 10.1002/brb3.1778. PMID: 32755074Free PMC Article
Mechanisms of injury-induced axon degeneration.
Ding C, Hammarlund M
Curr Opin Neurobiol 2019 Aug;57:171-178. Epub 2019 May 6 doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2019.03.006. PMID: 31071521Free PMC Article
Clinical and Radiological Features of Wallerian Degeneration of the Middle Cerebellar Peduncles Secondary to Pontine Infarction.
Zhang ZY, Liu ZQ, Qin W, Chen YW, Liu ZJ
Chin Med J (Engl) 2018 Mar 20;131(6):665-671. doi: 10.4103/0366-6999.226890. PMID: 29521288Free PMC Article
Relationship of acute axonal damage, Wallerian degeneration, and clinical disability in multiple sclerosis.
Singh S, Dallenga T, Winkler A, Roemer S, Maruschak B, Siebert H, Brück W, Stadelmann C
J Neuroinflammation 2017 Mar 17;14(1):57. doi: 10.1186/s12974-017-0831-8. PMID: 28302146Free PMC Article

Recent systematic reviews

Evaluation of the Aging Effect on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: A Systematic Review.
Maita KC, Garcia JP, Avila FR, Torres-Guzman RA, Ho O, Chini CCS, Chini EN, Forte AJ
J Surg Res 2023 Aug;288:329-340. Epub 2023 Apr 14 doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.03.017. PMID: 37060859
Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review of the Literature.
Lindsey HM, Hodges CB, Greer KM, Wilde EA, Merkley TL
Neuropsychol Rev 2023 Mar;33(1):42-121. Epub 2021 Mar 15 doi: 10.1007/s11065-021-09485-5. PMID: 33721207
How miRNAs Regulate Schwann Cells during Peripheral Nerve Regeneration-A Systemic Review.
Borger A, Stadlmayr S, Haertinger M, Semmler L, Supper P, Millesi F, Radtke C
Int J Mol Sci 2022 Mar 22;23(7) doi: 10.3390/ijms23073440. PMID: 35408800Free PMC Article
Polyethylene Glycol: The Future of Posttraumatic Nerve Repair? Systemic Review.
Paskal AM, Paskal W, Pietruski P, Wlodarski PK
Int J Mol Sci 2019 Mar 24;20(6) doi: 10.3390/ijms20061478. PMID: 30909624Free PMC Article
Integrating retrogenesis theory to Alzheimer's disease pathology: insight from DTI-TBSS investigation of the white matter microstructural integrity.
Alves GS, Oertel Knöchel V, Knöchel C, Carvalho AF, Pantel J, Engelhardt E, Laks J
Biomed Res Int 2015;2015:291658. Epub 2015 Jan 20 doi: 10.1155/2015/291658. PMID: 25685779Free PMC Article

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