Broadening the spectrum of controls for skin biopsy in painful neuropathies: spondylotic cervical myelopathy patients with painful feet
Authors
KOVAĽOVÁ, Ivana (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution), Eva VLČKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Josef BEDNAŘÍK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)
Edition
Brain and Behavior, Hoboken, John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2016, 2162-3279
Purpose: Intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) is useful in the evaluation of small-fiber neuropathy (SFN). Recent guidelines recommend extending the spectrum of controls for IENFD assessment by evaluation of patients whose clinical picture mimics that of SFN. The aim of this study was to broaden the spectrum of IENFD controls by the assessment of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and painful feet. Methods: Evaluation of IENFD from skin biopsy samples and quantitative sensory testing (QST) were performed in a cohort of 14 CSM patients (eight men, median age: 58; range: 46–63 years), with painful feet, exhibiting no clinical or electrophysiological signs of largefiber polyneuropathy, and no risk factors for peripheral neuropathies. Results: Quantitative sensory testing abnormalities were found in all but two of the CSM patients (86%), while the IENFD values were within reference range. The mean IENFD value (6.87 2.78 fibers/mm) did not differ from that of an ageand sex-matched cohort of healthy volunteers (7.97 2.21 fibers/mm, P > 0.05). Conclusions: The study confirmed normal skin biopsy findings in patients with CSM as one of the clinical conditions mimicking SFN and provided further support for the use of IENFD assessment in case of suspicion of SFN.
Links
ED1.1.00/02.0068, research and development project
Name: CEITEC - central european institute of technology
MUNI/A/1358/2014, interní kód MU
Name: Diagnostika a patofyziologie neuropatické bolesti (Acronym: PNB)
Investor: Masaryk University, Category A
NT13449, research and development project
Name: Spondylogenní komprese krční míchy - prevalence, diagnostika a prognóza
NT13523, research and development project
Name: Specifické charakteristiky neuropatické bolesti centrálního a periferního typu