Updating the classification of inherited neuropathies: Results of an international survey.

OBJECTIVE: The continual discovery of disease-causing gene mutations has led to difficulties in the complex classification of Charcot-Marie-Tooth diseases (CMT) that needs to be revised.

METHODS: We recently published a proposal to update the classification of inherited neuropathies. The reactions from colleagues prompted us to diffuse the proposal and ask people if they would be ready for such a change. We therefore performed an internet survey (from October 1, 2016, to December 1, 2016) that included more than 300 CMT worldwide specialists (practitioners and scientists) from various countries. A questionnaire (with proposals to update and simplify the way in which CMT is classified) was sent by e-mail to all participants in the last International Charcot-Marie-Tooth and Related Neuropathy Consortium meeting held in Venice, September 8-10, 2016 (as identified through an e-mail list).

RESULTS: Of the 107 CMT specialists who answered the survey, 65% considered that changes are needed and that our proposals constituted an improvement over the historical classification of CMT.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on recent proposals in the medical literature, these results highlight that most specialists think that changes are needed to the classification of CMT.