Abstract
Hereditary neuropathy is a most common inherited neuromuscular disease. The most common subtype is called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and affect motor and sensory nerve fibers and the prevalence is approximately 40 individuals in every 100 000.
In most cases clinical symptoms involves atrophies of distal feet muscles, feet deformities and absent ankle reflexes. The classification is based on nerve conduction velocity - typ 1- demyelinating - motor conduction velocity is less than 38 m/s and type 2 - axonal - motor conduction velocity is above 38 m/s.
The molecular geneticists discovered more than 60 genes with different causative mutations and have made a major contribution to molecular genetic classification of the CMT disease. The current therapeutic approach is based on physiotherapy, prosthetic and orthopedic treatment, because causative treatment is not available.
The prognosis of CMT patients is relatively good, because the standard life expectancy is not impaired, but has a big impact on the quality of life.