Geen therapeutisch nihilisme meer in de neurologie

A recent systematic review on the accuracy of monofilament testing in detecting neuropathy raises the question whether screening for polyneuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus is meaningful. More generally, is screening in neurology meaningful considering that many neurological conditions cannot be treated? Many cohort studies on type 1 and type 2 diabetes have shown that intense glycaemic control and treatment of other vascular risk factors clearly reduce the frequency and severity of complications, including polyneuropathy. Also, there are many ongoing exciting therapeutic developments in neurology, including oral therapies for multiple sclerosis and induced pluripotent stem cell technology. Therefore, there is no further place for therapeutic nihilism in neurology.

Conflict of interest: none declared. Financial support: none declared.