Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 1B

What it is

A rare hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy characterized by adult-onset chronic, paroxysmal and dry cough and gastro-oesophageal reflux preceeding the neuropathy. Cough is usually triggered by noxious odors, inhalation of fumes, eating dry food, lying flat or tactile stimulation of external auditory canal, and it may progress into cough syncope. Frequent throat clearing and hoarse voice may also be present. Gastro-oesophageal reflux usually presents with mild heartburn, however regurgitation and acid brash are reported in more severe cases. Sensory neuropathy symptoms develop later in life (between the third and fifth decades) with variable severities. Patients may have sensory loss in the upper and lower limbs, lancinating pains, superficial painless injuries or truncal neuropathy. Bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss is common. Additional clinical features may include retinal detachment, alacrima, urinary urgency, constipation and impotence. Nerve biopsy showed loss of unmyelinated and myelinated axons.

Key facts

Prevalence

<1 / 1 000 000

Age of onset

Adult

Inheritance

Autosomal dominant

Classified as

Disease

Prevalence figures describe populations, not individuals, and are often estimates from a single study. Where the figure is an incidence or a birth prevalence, it says so.

ICD-10 codes

ICD-10 has no distinct code for most rare diseases, so many are filed under the nearest available one. A shared code identifies the group, not this disease — the ORPHAcode above is what identifies it.

Related health topics

Reached through the ICD-10 categories this disease is filed under, so these describe the broader group rather than this disease specifically.

Cross-references