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Fleischer M, Lee I, Erdlenbruch F, Hinrichs L, Petropoulos IN, Malik RA, Hartung HP, Kieseier BC, Kleinschnitz C, Stettner M. Corneal confocal microscopy differentiates inflammatory from diabetic neuropathy. J Neuroinflammation 2021; 18:89. [PMID: 33832507 PMCID: PMC8033689 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-021-02130-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune-mediated neuropathies, such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) are treatable neuropathies. Among individuals with diabetic neuropathy, it remains a challenge to identify those individuals who develop CIDP. Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) has been shown to detect corneal nerve fiber loss and cellular infiltrates in the sub-basal layer of the cornea. The objective of the study was to determine whether CCM can distinguish diabetic neuropathy from CIDP and whether CCM can detect CIDP in persons with coexisting diabetes. METHODS In this multicenter, case-control study, participants with CIDP (n = 55) with (n = 10) and without (n = 45) diabetes; participants with diabetes (n = 58) with (n = 28) and without (n = 30) diabetic neuropathy, and healthy controls (n = 58) underwent CCM. Corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), and dendritic and non-dendritic cell density, with or without nerve fiber contact were quantified. RESULTS Dendritic cell density in proximity to corneal nerve fibers was significantly higher in participants with CIDP with and without diabetes compared to participants with diabetic neuropathy and controls. CNFD, CNFL, and CNBD were equally reduced in participants with CIDP, diabetic neuropathy, and CIDP with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS An increase in dendritic cell density identifies persons with CIDP. CCM may, therefore, be useful to differentiate inflammatory from non-inflammatory diabetic neuropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Fleischer
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational and Behavioral Neurosciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Inn Lee
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Friedrich Erdlenbruch
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational and Behavioral Neurosciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lena Hinrichs
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ioannis N Petropoulos
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Educator City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Rayaz A Malik
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Educator City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hans-Peter Hartung
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Neurology, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Bernd C Kieseier
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christoph Kleinschnitz
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational and Behavioral Neurosciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Mark Stettner
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational and Behavioral Neurosciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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