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Røikjer J, Croosu SS, Sejergaard BF, Hansen TM, Frøkjær JB, Søndergaard CB, Petropoulos IN, Malik RA, Nielsen E, Mørch CD, Ejskjaer N. Diagnostic Accuracy of Perception Threshold Tracking in the Detection of Small Fiber Damage in Type 1 Diabetes. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2024; 18:1157-1164. [PMID: 36825610 PMCID: PMC11418516 DOI: 10.1177/19322968231157431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
AIM An objective assessment of small nerve fibers is key to the early detection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). This study investigates the diagnostic accuracy of a novel perception threshold tracking technique in detecting small nerve fiber damage. METHODS Participants with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) without DPN (n = 20), with DPN (n = 20), with painful DPN (n = 20) and 20 healthy controls (HCs) underwent perception threshold tracking on the foot and corneal confocal microscopy. Diagnostic accuracy of perception threshold tracking compared to corneal confocal microscopy was analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS The rheobase, corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), and corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) (all P < .001) differed between groups. The diagnostic accuracy of perception threshold tracking (rheobase) was excellent for identifying small nerve fiber damage, especially for CNFL with a sensitivity of 94%, specificity 94%, positive predictive value 97%, and negative predictive value 89%. There was a significant correlation between rheobase with CNFD, CNBD, CNFL, and Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (all P < .001). CONCLUSION Perception threshold tracking had a very high diagnostic agreement with corneal confocal microscopy for detecting small nerve fiber loss and may have clinical utility for assessing small nerve fiber damage and hence early DPN. CLINICAL TRIALS NCT04078516.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Røikjer
- Steno Diabetes Center North Denmark, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Suganthiya Santhiapillai Croosu
- Steno Diabetes Center North Denmark, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Radiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | | | - Tine Maria Hansen
- Department of Radiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Jens Brøndum Frøkjær
- Department of Radiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Esben Nielsen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Carsten Dahl Mørch
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Niels Ejskjaer
- Steno Diabetes Center North Denmark, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Clinical Medicine and Endocrinology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
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Mondal A, Bose C, Pramanik S, Dash D, Mukherjee B, Malik RA, Mukhopadhyay S. Circulating netrin-1 levels are reduced and related to corneal nerve fiber loss in patients with diabetic neuropathy. J Diabetes Investig 2024; 15:1068-1074. [PMID: 38725153 PMCID: PMC11292387 DOI: 10.1111/jdi.14197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS/INTRODUCTION Deficiency of neurotropic factors is implicated in diabetic neuropathy (DN). Netrin-1 is a neurotropic factor, but its association with DN has not been explored. We have assessed the association between serum netrin-1 levels and early diabetic neuropathy assessed by quantifying corneal nerve fiber loss using corneal confocal microscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 72 participants with type 2 diabetes, without and with corneal nerve fiber loss (DN- n = 42, DN+ n = 30), and 45 healthy controls were studied. Serum netrin-1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and corneal nerve morphology was assessed using corneal confocal microscopy. RESULTS Corneal nerve fiber density, branch density, fiber length and serum netrin-1 levels were significantly lower in the DN- and DN+ groups compared with controls (P < 0.001). Netrin-1 levels correlated with corneal nerve fiber length in the DN+ group (r = 0.51; P < 0.01). A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a netrin-1 cut-off value of 599.6 (pg/mL) had an area under the curve of 0.85, with a sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 74% (P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval 0.76-0.94) for differentiating patients with and without corneal nerve loss. CONCLUSIONS Serum netrin-1 levels show a progressive decline with increasing severity of small nerve fiber damage in patients with diabetes. Netrin-1 could act as a biomarker for small nerve fiber damage in DN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asif Mondal
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismInstitute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGME&R)KolkataWest BengalIndia
| | - Chiranjit Bose
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismInstitute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGME&R)KolkataWest BengalIndia
| | - Subhasish Pramanik
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismInstitute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGME&R)KolkataWest BengalIndia
| | - Debasish Dash
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismInstitute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGME&R)KolkataWest BengalIndia
| | - Bidisha Mukherjee
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismInstitute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGME&R)KolkataWest BengalIndia
| | - Rayaz A Malik
- Department of MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine‐QatarDohaQatar
| | - Satinath Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismInstitute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGME&R)KolkataWest BengalIndia
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Wu PJ, Tseng HC, Chao CC, Liao YH, Yen CT, Lin WY, Hsieh ST, Sun WZ, Sun CK. Discontinuity third harmonic generation microscopy for label-free imaging and quantification of intraepidermal nerve fibers. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2024; 4:100735. [PMID: 38503290 PMCID: PMC10985268 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Label-free imaging methodologies for nerve fibers rely on spatial signal continuity to identify fibers and fail to image free intraepidermal nerve endings (FINEs). Here, we present an imaging methodology-called discontinuity third harmonic generation (THG) microscopy (dTHGM)-that detects three-dimensional discontinuities in THG signals as the contrast. We describe the mechanism and design of dTHGM and apply it to reveal the bead-string characteristics of unmyelinated FINEs. We confirmed the label-free capability of dTHGM through a comparison study with the PGP9.5 immunohistochemical staining slides and a longitudinal spared nerve injury study. An intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) index based on a discontinuous-dot-connecting algorithm was developed to facilitate clinical applications of dTHGM. A preliminary clinical study confirmed that the IENF index was highly correlated with skin-biopsy-based IENF density (Pearson's correlation coefficient R = 0.98) and could achieve differential identification of small-fiber neuropathy (p = 0.0102) in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Jhe Wu
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Chieh Tseng
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chao Chao
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100225, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hua Liao
- Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine Taipei 100225, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Tung Yen
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Ying Lin
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; Department of Anesthesiology, National Taiwan University Hospital, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100225, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Tsang Hsieh
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100225, Taiwan.
| | - Wei-Zen Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, National Taiwan University Hospital, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100225, Taiwan.
| | - Chi-Kuang Sun
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
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Gad H, Kalra S, Pinzon R, Garcia RAN, Yotsombut K, Coetzee A, Nafach J, Lim LL, Fletcher PE, Lim V, Malik RA. Earlier diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in primary care: A call to action. J Peripher Nerv Syst 2024; 29:28-37. [PMID: 38268316 DOI: 10.1111/jns.12613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Peripheral neuropathy (PN) often remains undiagnosed (~80%). Earlier diagnosis of PN may reduce morbidity and enable earlier risk factor reduction to limit disease progression. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most common PN and the 10 g monofilament is endorsed as an inexpensive and easily performed test for DPN. However, it only detects patients with advanced neuropathy at high risk of foot ulceration. There are many validated questionnaires to diagnose PN, but they can be time-consuming and have complex scoring systems. Primary care physicians (PCPs) have busy clinics and lack access to a readily available screening method to diagnose PN. They would prefer a short, simple, and accurate tool to screen for PN. Involving the patient in the screening process would not only reduce the time a physician requires to make a diagnosis but would also empower the patient. Following an expert meeting of diabetologists and neurologists from the Middle East, South East Asia and Latin America, a consensus was formulated to help improve the diagnosis of PN in primary care using a simple tool for patients to screen themselves for PN followed by a consultation with the physician to confirm the diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoda Gad
- Research Department, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sanjay Kalra
- Department of Endocrinology, Bharti Hospital, Karnal, India
| | - Rizaldy Pinzon
- Neurology Department of the Bethesda, General Hospital Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Rey-An Nino Garcia
- College of Medicine, De LA Salle, Health Medical and Science Institute College of Medicine, Manila, Philippines
| | - Kitiyot Yotsombut
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ankia Coetzee
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jalal Nafach
- Dubai Diabetes Center, Dubai Academic Health Corporation, Dubai, UAE
| | - Lee-Ling Lim
- Department of Medicine, Diabetes Care Unit, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Pablo E Fletcher
- Endocrinology Department, Medical School, University of Panama, Panama, Panama
| | - Vivien Lim
- Endocrinology Department, Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rayaz A Malik
- Research Department, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
- Institute of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Yeung AM, Huang J, Nguyen KT, Xu NY, Hughes LT, Agrawal BK, Ejskjaer N, Klonoff DC. Painful Diabetic Neuropathy: The Need for New Approaches. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2024; 18:159-167. [PMID: 36305521 PMCID: PMC10899841 DOI: 10.1177/19322968221132252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Painful diabetic neuropathy is a common vexing problem for people with diabetes and a costly problem for society. The pathophysiology is not well understood, and no safe and effective mechanistically-based treatment has been identified. Poor glycemic control is a risk factor for painful diabetic neuropathy. Excessive intraneuronal glucose in people with diabetes can be shunted away from physiological glycolysis into multiple pathological pathways associated with neuropathy and pain. The first three treatments that are traditionally offered consist of risk factor reduction, lifestyle modifications, and pharmacological therapy, which includes only three drugs that are approved for this indication by the United States Food and Drug Administration. All of these traditional treatments are often inadequate for relieving neuropathic pain, and thus, new approaches are needed. Modern devices based on neuromodulation technology, which act directly on the nervous system, have been recently cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration for painful diabetic neuropathy and offer promise as next-in-line therapy when traditional therapies fail.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Nicole Y. Xu
- Diabetes Technology Society, Burlingame, CA, USA
| | - Lorenzo T. Hughes
- Balance Health, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, Burlingame, CA, USA
| | | | - Niels Ejskjaer
- Steno Diabetes Center North Denmark and Department of Endocrinology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - David C. Klonoff
- Diabetes Technology Society, Burlingame, CA, USA
- Diabetes Research Institute, Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, San Mateo, CA, USA
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Sierra-Silvestre E, Andrade RJ, Colorado LH, Edwards K, Coppieters MW. Occurrence of corneal sub-epithelial microneuromas and axonal swelling in people with diabetes with and without (painful) diabetic neuropathy. Diabetologia 2023; 66:1719-1734. [PMID: 37301795 PMCID: PMC10257488 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-023-05945-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Non-invasive in vivo corneal confocal microscopy is gaining ground as an alternative to skin punch biopsy to evaluate small-diameter nerve fibre characteristics. This study aimed to further explore corneal nerve fibre pathology in diabetic neuropathy. METHODS This cross-sectional study quantified and compared corneal nerve morphology and microneuromas in participants without diabetes (n=27), participants with diabetes but without distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (DSPN; n=33), participants with non-painful DSPN (n=25) and participants with painful DSPN (n=18). Clinical and electrodiagnostic criteria were used to diagnose DSPN. ANCOVA was used to compare nerve fibre morphology in the central cornea and inferior whorl, and the number of corneal sub-epithelial microneuromas between groups. Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the type and presence of corneal sub-epithelial microneuromas and axonal swelling between groups. RESULTS Various corneal nerve morphology metrics, such as corneal nerve fibre length and density, showed a progressive decline across the groups (p<0.001). In addition, axonal swelling was present more frequently (p=0.018) and in higher numbers (p=0.03) in participants with painful compared with non-painful DSPN. The frequency of axonal distension, a type of microneuroma, was increased in participants with painful and non-painful DSPN compared to participants with diabetes but without DSPN and participants without diabetes (all p≤0.042). The combined presence of all microneuromas and axonal swelling was increased in participants with painful DSPN compared with all other groups (p≤0.026). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Microneuromas and axonal swelling in the cornea increase in prevalence from participants with diabetes to participants with non-painful DSPN and participants with painful DSPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Sierra-Silvestre
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences - Musculoskeletal Health Program, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ricardo J Andrade
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Movement - Interactions - Performance (MIP), Nantes University, Nantes, France
| | - Luisa H Colorado
- Centre for Vision and Eye Research, School of Optometry and Vision Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Katie Edwards
- Centre for Vision and Eye Research, School of Optometry and Vision Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Michel W Coppieters
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences - Musculoskeletal Health Program, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Cheng MK, Guo YY, Kang XN, Zhang L, Wang D, Ren HH, Yuan G. Advances in cardiovascular-related biomarkers to predict diabetic peripheral neuropathy. World J Diabetes 2023; 14:1226-1233. [PMID: 37664477 PMCID: PMC10473952 DOI: 10.4239/wjd.v14.i8.1226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common chronic complication of diabetes mellitus. One of the most common types is distal symmetric poly-neuropathy, which begins as bilateral symmetry pain and hyperesthesia and gradually progresses into hypoesthesia with nerve fibre disorder and is frequently accompanied by depression and anxiety. Notably, more than half of patients with DPN can be asymptomatic, which tends to delay early detection. Furthermore, the study of adverse outcomes showed that DPN is a prominent risk factor for foot ulceration, gangrene and nontraumatic amputation, which decreases quality of life. Thus, it is essential to develop convenient diagnostic biomarkers with high sensitivity for screening and early intervention. It has been reported that there may be common pathways for microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes. The pathogenesis of both disorders involves vascular endothelial dys-function. Emerging evidence indicates that traditional and novel cardiovascular-related biomarkers have the potential to characterize patients by subclinical disease status and improve risk prediction. Additionally, beyond traditional cardiovascular-related biomarkers, novel cardiovascular-related biomarkers have been linked to diabetes and its complications. In this review, we evaluate the association between major traditional and nontraditional car-diovascular-related biomarkers of DPN, such as cardiac troponin T, B-type natriuretic peptide, C-reactive protein, myeloperoxidase, and homocysteine, and assess the evidence for early risk factor-based management strategies to reduce the incidence and slow the progression of DPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Ke Cheng
- Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yao-Yao Guo
- Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiao-Nan Kang
- Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Hui-Hui Ren
- Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Gang Yuan
- Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
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Khan A, Kamal M, Alhothi A, Gad H, Adan MA, Ponirakis G, Petropoulos IN, Malik RA. Corneal confocal microscopy demonstrates sensory nerve loss in children with autism spectrum disorder. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288399. [PMID: 37437060 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulty in communication and interaction with others. Postmortem studies have shown cerebral neuronal loss and neuroimaging studies show neuronal loss in the amygdala, cerebellum and inter-hemispheric regions of the brain. Recent studies have shown altered tactile discrimination and allodynia on the face, mouth, hands and feet and intraepidermal nerve fiber loss in the legs of subjects with ASD. Fifteen children with ASD (age: 12.00 ± 3.55 years) and twenty age-matched healthy controls (age: 12.83 ± 1.91 years) underwent corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) and quantification of corneal nerve fiber morphology. Corneal nerve fibre density (fibers/mm2) (28.61 ± 5.74 vs. 40.42 ± 8.95, p = 0.000), corneal nerve fibre length (mm/mm2) (16.61 ± 3.26 vs. 21.44 ± 4.44, p = 0.001), corneal nerve branch density (branches/mm2) (43.68 ± 22.71 vs. 62.39 ± 21.58, p = 0.018) and corneal nerve fibre tortuosity (0.037 ± 0.023 vs. 0.074 ± 0.017, p = 0.000) were significantly lower and inferior whorl length (mm/mm2) (21.06 ± 6.12 vs. 23.43 ± 3.95, p = 0.255) was comparable in children with ASD compared to controls. CCM identifies central corneal nerve fiber loss in children with ASD. These findings, urge the need for larger longitudinal studies to determine the utility of CCM as an imaging biomarker for neuronal loss in different subtypes of ASD and in relation to disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adnan Khan
- Research Division, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Madeeha Kamal
- Department of Pediatrics, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abdula Alhothi
- Department of Pediatrics, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hoda Gad
- Research Division, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Marian A Adan
- Department of Pediatrics, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Rayaz A Malik
- Research Division, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
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Corneal nerve fiber involvement in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Neurol Sci 2023:10.1007/s10072-023-06711-1. [PMID: 36856905 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-06711-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the primary myelin-related pathophysiology, small fiber neuropathy (SFN) and axonal degeneration are also considered to be involved and associated with disabling symptoms and impaired quality of life in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Demonstration of SFN usually requires complex or invasive investigations. OBJECTS In vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCCM) has evolved as a non-invasive, easily applied method for quantification of small fiber involvement in peripheral nerve disorders. We aimed to investigate the potential role of IVCCM in CIDP. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 15 patients with CIDP underwent assessment with clinical disability scales, neuropathic pain (NP) and autonomic symptom questionnaires, nerve conduction studies, and IVCCM. IVCCM parameters were analyzed and compared to those from 32 healthy controls. RESULTS Corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) and corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) were significantly decreased in the CIDP group, compared to those in controls (p = 0.03 and p = 0.024, respectively). Langerhans cells and fiber tortuosity were increased in CIDP patients (p = 0.005 and p = 0.001, respectively). IVCCM parameters were significantly lower in patients with NP compared to those in patients without NP. CONCLUSION IVCCM shows promise as a non-invasive complementary biomarker in the assessment of demyelinating polyneuropathies, providing insights into the potential pathophysiology of these non-length-dependent neuropathies.
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Diabetic Retinopathy: Soluble and Imaging Ocular Biomarkers. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12030912. [PMID: 36769560 PMCID: PMC9917666 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12030912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR), the most common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, represents the leading cause of acquired blindness in the working-age population. Due to the potential absence of symptoms in the early stages of the disease, the identification of clinical biomarkers can have a crucial role in the early diagnosis of DR as well as for the detection of prognostic factors. In particular, imaging techniques are fundamental tools for screening, diagnosis, classification, monitoring, treatment planning and prognostic assessment in DR. In this context, the identification of ocular and systemic biomarkers is crucial to facilitate the risk stratification of diabetic patients; moreover, reliable biomarkers could provide prognostic information on disease progression as well as assist in predicting a patient's response to therapy. In this context, this review aimed to provide an updated and comprehensive overview of the soluble and anatomical biomarkers associated with DR.
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Jett S, Thompson MR, Awasthi S, Cuccia DJ, Tan TW, Armstrong DG, Mazhar A, Weinkauf CC. Stratification of Microvascular Disease Severity in the Foot Using Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2023; 17:25-34. [PMID: 34218713 PMCID: PMC9846398 DOI: 10.1177/19322968211024666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microvascular disease (MVD) describes systemic changes in the small vessels (~100 um diameter) that impair tissue oxygenation and perfusion. MVD is a common but poorly monitored complication of diabetes. Recent studies have demonstrated that MVD: (i) is an independent risk factor for ulceration and amputation and (ii) increases risk of adverse limb outcomes synergistically with PAD. Despite the clinical relevance of MVD, microvascular evaluation is not standard in a vascular assessment. METHODS We evaluated 299 limbs from 153 patients seen clinically for possible lower extremity PAD. The patients were assessed by ankle brachial index (ABI), toe brachial index (TBI), and spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI). These measurements were evaluated and compared to patient MVD status, defined by clinical diagnoses of (in ascending order of severity) no diabetes; diabetes; diabetes + neuropathy; diabetes + neuropathy + retinopathy. RESULTS SFDI-derived parameters HbT1 and StO2 were significantly different across the MVD groups (P < .001). A logistic regression model based on HbT1 and StO2 differentiated limbs with severe MVD (diabetes+neuropathy+retinopathy) from the larger group of limbs from patients with only diabetes (P = .001, area under the curve = 0.844). Neither ABI nor TBI significantly differentiated these populations. CONCLUSIONS Standard assessment of PAD using ABI and TBI are inadequate for detecting MVD in at-risk populations. SFDI-defined HbT1 and StO2 are promising tools for evaluating MVD. Prospective studies with wound-based outcomes would be useful to further evaluate the role MVD assessment could play in routine clinical evaluation of patients at risk for lower extremity complications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shubhangi Awasthi
- The Division of Vascular Surgery,
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Tze-Woei Tan
- The Division of Vascular Surgery,
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - David G. Armstrong
- Department of Surgery, Southwestern
Academic Limb Salvage Alliance, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern
California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Craig C. Weinkauf
- The Division of Vascular Surgery,
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Craig C. Weinkauf, MD, PhD, Vascular
Surgery, University of Arizona, 1501 N Campbell Ave, Rm 4402, Tucson, AZ 85724,
USA.
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12
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Abstract
Distal symmetric diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy (DPN) is the most common form of neuropathy in the world, affecting 30 to 50% of diabetic individuals and resulting in significant morbidity and socioeconomic costs. This review summarizes updates in the diagnosis and management of DPN. Recently updated clinical criteria facilitate bedside diagnosis, and a number of new technologies are being explored for diagnostic confirmation in specific settings and for use as surrogate measures in clinical trials. Evolving literature indicates that distinct but overlapping mechanisms underlie neuropathy in type 1 versus type 2 diabetes, and there is a growing focus on the role of metabolic factors in the development and progression of DPN. Exercise-based lifestyle interventions have shown therapeutic promise. A variety of potential disease-modifying and symptomatic therapies are in development. Innovations in clinical trial design include the incorporation of detailed pain phenotyping and biomarkers for central sensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihua Fan
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - A Gordon Smith
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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13
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So WZ, Qi Wong NS, Tan HC, Yu Lin MT, Yu Lee IX, Mehta JS, Liu YC. Diabetic corneal neuropathy as a surrogate marker for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:2172-2178. [PMID: 35259825 PMCID: PMC9083173 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.327364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic neuropathy is a prevalent microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, affecting nerves in all parts of the body including corneal nerves and peripheral nervous system, leading to diabetic corneal neuropathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, respectively. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is diagnosed in clinical practice using electrophysiological nerve conduction studies, clinical scoring, and skin biopsies. However, these diagnostic methods have limited sensitivity in detecting small-fiber disease, hence they do not accurately reflect the status of diabetic neuropathy. More recently, analysis of alterations in the corneal nerves has emerged as a promising surrogate marker for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. In this review, we will discuss the relationship between diabetic corneal neuropathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, elaborating on the foundational aspects of each: pathogenesis, clinical presentation, evaluation, and management. We will further discuss the relevance of diabetic corneal neuropathy in detecting the presence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, particularly early diabetic peripheral neuropathy; the correlation between the severity of diabetic corneal neuropathy and that of diabetic peripheral neuropathy; and the role of diabetic corneal neuropathy in the stratification of complications of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zheng So
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Natalie Shi Qi Wong
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hong Chang Tan
- Department of Endocrinology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Jodhbir S Mehta
- Singapore Eye Research Institute; Department of Cornea and External Eye Disease, Singapore National Eye Centre; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yu-Chi Liu
- Singapore Eye Research Institute; Department of Cornea and External Eye Disease, Singapore National Eye Centre; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
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14
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Chiang JCB, Khou V, Tavakoli A, Park SB, Goldstein D, Krishnan AV, Markoulli M. Reproducibility and Reliability of Subbasal Corneal Nerve Parameters of the Inferior Whorl in the Neurotoxic and Healthy Cornea. Cornea 2022; 41:1487-1494. [PMID: 36155558 DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000002947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of subbasal corneal nerve plexus parameters of the inferior whorl compared with the central cornea with in vivo corneal confocal microscopy and to investigate the impact of inferior whorl pattern complexity on reproducibility. METHODS Subbasal corneal nerves of healthy controls (n = 10) and patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (n = 10) were imaged with a laser scanning confocal microscope. Two masked, experienced observers and the original image taker were tasked with selecting representative images of the central cornea and inferior whorl for each participant. This was conducted on 2 occasions 1 week apart. Corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) and fractal dimension (CNFrD) [central cornea: CNFL and CNFrD; inferior whorl region: inferior whorl length (IWL) and inferior whorl fractal dimension (IWFrD)] were analyzed. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was analyzed for interobserver and intraobserver reliability. Inferior whorl complexity was classified according to the ease of identification of the center point of convergence. RESULTS Interobserver ICC was 0.992 for CNFL, 0.994 for CNFrD, 0.980 for IWL, and 0.954 for IWFrD. When analyzed by inferior whorl complexity, the interobserver reliability was similar for simple (0.987 for IWL; 0.960 for IWFrD) and complex patterns (0.967 for IWL; 0.949 for IWFrD). However, intraobserver ICC were reduced for complex (IWL 0.841-0.970; IWFrD 0.830-0.955) compared with simple patterns (IWL 0.931-0.970; IWFrD 0.921-0.969). CONCLUSIONS Although the overall interobserver reliability was excellent for the central corneal and inferior whorl parameters, there was lower intraobserver reliability for the inferior whorl parameters for complex morphological patterns. To improve reliability, more sophisticated wide-field imaging of the inferior whorl may be needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Chung Bo Chiang
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Vincent Khou
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Centre for Eye Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Azadeh Tavakoli
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Susanna B Park
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - David Goldstein
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; and.,Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Arun V Krishnan
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; and
| | - Maria Markoulli
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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15
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Røikjer J, Croosu SS, Hansen TM, Frøkjær JB, Andersen HH, Arendt-Nielsen L, Mørch CD, Ejskjaer N. The Histamine-Induced Axon-Reflex Response in People With Type 1 Diabetes With and Without Peripheral Neuropathy and Pain: A Clinical, Observational Study. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2022; 23:1167-1176. [PMID: 35121142 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2022.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Small nerve fibres are important when studying diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) as they could be first affected. However, assessing their integrity and function adequately remains a major challenge. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between different degrees of DPN, the presence of neuropathic pain, and the intensity of the axon-reflex flare response provoked by epidermal histamine. Eighty adults were included and divided into 4 groups of 20 with type 1 diabetes and: painful DPN (T1DM+PDPN), non-painful DPN (T1DM+DPN), no DPN and no pain (T1DM-DPN), and 20 persons without diabetes or pain (HC). The vasomotor responses were captured by a Full-field Laser Speckle Perfusion Imager. The response was lowest in T1DM+DPN, followed by T1DM+PDPN, T1DM-DPN and HC. The response was significantly reduced in DPN (T1DM+DPN, T1DM+PDPN) compared with people without (T1DM-DPN, HC) (P < .001). The response was also attenuated in diabetes irrespective of the degree of DPN (T1DM+PDPN, T1DM+DPN, T1DM-DPN) (P < .001). There were no differences in the response between painful neuropathy (T1DM+PDPN) and painless DPN (T1DM+DPN) (P = .189). The method can distinguish between groups with and without diabetes and with and without DPN but cannot distinguish between groups with and without painful DPN. PERSPECTIVE: This study describes how diabetes attenuates the axon-reflex response, and how it is affected by neuropathy and pain clarifying previous findings. Furthermore, the study is the first to utilize histamine when evoking the response, thus providing a new and fast alternative for future studies into the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Røikjer
- Steno Diabetes Center North Denmark, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
| | | | - Tine Maria Hansen
- Department of Radiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Jens Brøndum Frøkjær
- Department of Radiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Denmark
| | - Hjalte Holm Andersen
- SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Lars Arendt-Nielsen
- Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark and Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Mech-Sense, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Carsten Dahl Mørch
- Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Niels Ejskjaer
- Steno Diabetes Center North Denmark, Aalborg University Hospital; Clinical Medicine and Endocrinology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
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16
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Chao CC, Hsieh PC, Janice Lin CH, Huang SL, Hsieh ST, Chiang MC. Impaired brain network architecture as neuroimaging evidence of pain in diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2022; 186:109833. [PMID: 35314258 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2022.109833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To investigate alterations in structural brain networks due to chronic diabetic neuropathic pain. METHODS The current study recruited 24 patients with painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) to investigate the influences of chronic pain on the brain. Thirteen patients with painless diabetic neuropathy (PLDN) and 24 healthy adults were recruited as disease and healthy controls. White matter connectivity of the brain networks constructed by diffusion tractography was compared across groups using the Network-based statistic (NBS) method. Graph theoretical analysis was further applied to assess topological changes of the brain networks. RESULTS The PDN patients had a significant reduction in white matter connectivity compared with PLDN and controls in the limbic and temporal regions, particularly the insula, hippocampus and parahippocampus, the amygdala, and the middle temporal gyrus. The PDN patients also exhibited an altered topology of the brain networks with reduced global efficiency and betweenness centrality. CONCLUSION The current findings indicate that topological alterations of brain networks may serve as a biomarker for pain-induced maladaptive reorganization of the brain in PDN. Given the high prevalence of diabetes worldwide, novel insights from network sciences to investigate the central mechanisms of diabetic neuropathic pain are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Chao Chao
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Paul-Chen Hsieh
- Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Ho Janice Lin
- Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Yeong-An Orthopedic and Physical Therapy Clinic, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shin-Leh Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
| | - Sung-Tsang Hsieh
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Center of Precision Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Ming-Chang Chiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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17
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Petropoulos IN, Bitirgen G, Ferdousi M, Kalteniece A, Azmi S, D'Onofrio L, Lim SH, Ponirakis G, Khan A, Gad H, Mohammed I, Mohammadi YE, Malik A, Gosal D, Kobylecki C, Silverdale M, Soran H, Alam U, Malik RA. Corneal Confocal Microscopy to Image Small Nerve Fiber Degeneration: Ophthalmology Meets Neurology. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2022; 2:725363. [PMID: 35295436 PMCID: PMC8915697 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2021.725363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain has multiple etiologies, but a major feature is small fiber dysfunction or damage. Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a rapid non-invasive ophthalmic imaging technique that can image small nerve fibers in the cornea and has been utilized to show small nerve fiber loss in patients with diabetic and other neuropathies. CCM has comparable diagnostic utility to intraepidermal nerve fiber density for diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia and amyloid neuropathy and predicts the development of diabetic neuropathy. Moreover, in clinical intervention trials of patients with diabetic and sarcoid neuropathy, corneal nerve regeneration occurs early and precedes an improvement in symptoms and neurophysiology. Corneal nerve fiber loss also occurs and is associated with disease progression in multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and dementia. We conclude that corneal confocal microscopy has good diagnostic and prognostic capability and fulfills the FDA criteria as a surrogate end point for clinical trials in peripheral and central neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gulfidan Bitirgen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Maryam Ferdousi
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Cardiovascular Trials Unit, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Alise Kalteniece
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Cardiovascular Trials Unit, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Shazli Azmi
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Cardiovascular Trials Unit, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Luca D'Onofrio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Sze Hway Lim
- Department of Neurology, Salford Royal National Health System (NHS) Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Adnan Khan
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hoda Gad
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ibrahim Mohammed
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Ayesha Malik
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - David Gosal
- Department of Neurology, Salford Royal National Health System (NHS) Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Kobylecki
- Department of Neurology, Salford Royal National Health System (NHS) Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Monty Silverdale
- Department of Neurology, Salford Royal National Health System (NHS) Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Handrean Soran
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Cardiovascular Trials Unit, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Uazman Alam
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Clinical Sciences Centre, Pain Research Institute, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool University Hospital National Health System (NHS) Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Rayaz A Malik
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar.,Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Cardiovascular Trials Unit, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
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18
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Zhou T, Lee A, Lo ACY, Kwok JSWJ. Diabetic Corneal Neuropathy: Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:816062. [PMID: 35281903 PMCID: PMC8905431 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.816062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major global public health problem that can cause complications such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy. Besides the reporting of reduction in corneal nerve density and decrease in corneal sensitivity in diabetic patients, there may be a subsequent result in delayed corneal wound healing and increased corneal infections. Despite being a potential cause of blindness, these corneal nerve changes have not gained enough attention. It has been proposed that corneal nerve changes may be an indicator for diabetic neuropathy, which can provide a window for early diagnosis and treatment. In this review, the authors aimed to give an overview of the relationship between corneal nerves and diabetic neuropathy as well as the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of corneal nerve fiber changes caused by DM for improved prediction and prevention of diabetic neuropathy. In addition, the authors summarized current and novel therapeutic methods for delayed corneal wound healing, nerve protection and regeneration in the diabetic cornea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Allie Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Amy Cheuk Yin Lo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jeremy Sze Wai John Kwok
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
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19
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Malik RA, Efron N. Corneal Confocal Microscopy and the Nervous System: Introduction to the Special Issue. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11061475. [PMID: 35329801 PMCID: PMC8953792 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11061475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rayaz A. Malik
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Research Division, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha 24144, Qatar;
| | - Nathan Efron
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia
- Correspondence:
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20
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Fan Q, Gordon Smith A. Recent updates in the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy. Fac Rev 2022. [PMID: 36311537 DOI: 10.1270/r/11-30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Distal symmetric diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy (DPN) is the most common form of neuropathy in the world, affecting 30 to 50% of diabetic individuals and resulting in significant morbidity and socioeconomic costs. This review summarizes updates in the diagnosis and management of DPN. Recently updated clinical criteria facilitate bedside diagnosis, and a number of new technologies are being explored for diagnostic confirmation in specific settings and for use as surrogate measures in clinical trials. Evolving literature indicates that distinct but overlapping mechanisms underlie neuropathy in type 1 versus type 2 diabetes, and there is a growing focus on the role of metabolic factors in the development and progression of DPN. Exercise-based lifestyle interventions have shown therapeutic promise. A variety of potential disease-modifying and symptomatic therapies are in development. Innovations in clinical trial design include the incorporation of detailed pain phenotyping and biomarkers for central sensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihua Fan
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - A Gordon Smith
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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21
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Gad H, Petropoulos IN, Khan A, Ponirakis G, MacDonald R, Alam U, Malik RA. Corneal confocal microscopy for the diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Diabetes Investig 2022; 13:134-147. [PMID: 34351711 PMCID: PMC8756328 DOI: 10.1111/jdi.13643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a rapid non-invasive ophthalmic imaging technique that identifies corneal nerve fiber damage. Small studies suggest that CCM could be used to assess patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). AIM To undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the diagnostic utility of CCM for sub-clinical DPN (DPN- ) and established DPN (DPN+ ). DATA SOURCES Databases (PubMed, Embase, Central, ProQuest) were searched for studies using CCM in patients with diabetes up to April 2020. STUDY SELECTION Studies were included if they reported on at least one CCM parameter in patients with diabetes. DATA EXTRACTION Corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL), and inferior whorl length (IWL) were compared between patients with diabetes with and without DPN and controls. Meta-analysis was undertaken using RevMan V.5.3. DATA SYNTHESIS Thirty-eight studies including ~4,000 participants were included in this meta-analysis. There were significant reductions in CNFD, CNBD, CNFL, and IWL in DPN- vs controls (P < 0.00001), DPN+ vs controls (P < 0.00001), and DPN+ vs DPN- (P < 0.00001). CONCLUSION This systematic review and meta-analysis shows that CCM detects small nerve fiber loss in subclinical and clinical DPN and concludes that CCM has good diagnostic utility in DPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoda Gad
- Department of MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine‐QatarDohaQatar
| | | | - Adnan Khan
- Department of MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine‐QatarDohaQatar
| | | | | | - Uazman Alam
- Diabetes and Neuropathy ResearchDepartment of Eye and Vision Sciences and Pain Research InstituteInstitute of Ageing and Chronic DiseaseUniversity of Liverpool and Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation TrustLiverpoolUK
- Department of Diabetes and EndocrinologyRoyal Liverpool and Broadgreen University NHS Hospital TrustLiverpoolUK
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and GastroenterologyUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Rayaz A Malik
- Department of MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine‐QatarDohaQatar
- Institute of Cardiovascular MedicineUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
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22
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Sloan G, Alam U, Selvarajah D, Tesfaye S. The Treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy. Curr Diabetes Rev 2022; 18:e070721194556. [PMID: 34238163 DOI: 10.2174/1573399817666210707112413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (painful-DPN) is a highly prevalent and disabling condition, affecting up to one-third of patients with diabetes. This condition can have a profound impact resulting in a poor quality of life, disruption of employment, impaired sleep, and poor mental health with an excess of depression and anxiety. The management of painful-DPN poses a great challenge. Unfortunately, currently there are no Food and Drug Administration (USA) approved disease-modifying treatments for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) as trials of putative pathogenetic treatments have failed at phase 3 clinical trial stage. Therefore, the focus of managing painful- DPN other than improving glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk factor modification is treating symptoms. The recommended treatments based on expert international consensus for painful- DPN have remained essentially unchanged for the last decade. Both the serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SNRI) duloxetine and α2δ ligand pregabalin have the most robust evidence for treating painful-DPN. The weak opioids (e.g. tapentadol and tramadol, both of which have an SNRI effect), tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and α2δ ligand gabapentin are also widely recommended and prescribed agents. Opioids (except tramadol and tapentadol), should be prescribed with caution in view of the lack of definitive data surrounding efficacy, concerns surrounding addiction and adverse events. Recently, emerging therapies have gained local licenses, including the α2δ ligand mirogabalin (Japan) and the high dose 8% capsaicin patch (FDA and Europe). The management of refractory painful-DPN is difficult; specialist pain services may offer off-label therapies (e.g. botulinum toxin, intravenous lidocaine and spinal cord stimulation), although there is limited clinical trial evidence supporting their use. Additionally, despite combination therapy being commonly used clinically, there is little evidence supporting this practise. There is a need for further clinical trials to assess novel therapeutic agents, optimal combination therapy and existing agents to determine which are the most effective for the treatment of painful-DPN. This article reviews the evidence for the treatment of painful-DPN, including emerging treatment strategies such as novel compounds and stratification of patients according to individual characteristics (e.g. pain phenotype, neuroimaging and genotype) to improve treatment responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon Sloan
- Diabetes Research Unit, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Uazman Alam
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and the Pain Research Institute, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, and Liverpool University Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, Institute of Human Development, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Dinesh Selvarajah
- Diabetes Research Unit, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Oncology and Human Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Solomon Tesfaye
- Diabetes Research Unit, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
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23
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Corneal Confocal Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Small Fiber Neuropathy: Faster, Easier, and More Efficient Than Skin Biopsy? PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2021; 29:1-8. [PMID: 35366285 PMCID: PMC8954271 DOI: 10.3390/pathophysiology29010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain may affect 30–50% of the world’s population and an important cause is small fiber neuropathy (SFN). Recent research suggests that autoimmune diseases may be one of the most common causes of small nerve fiber damage. There is low awareness of SFN among patients and clinicians and it is difficult to diagnose as routine electrophysiological methods only detect large fiber abnormalities, and specialized small fiber tests, like skin biopsy and quantitative sensory testing, are not routinely available. Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a rapid, non-invasive, reproducible method for quantifying small nerve fiber degeneration and regeneration, and could be an important tool for diagnosing SFN. This review considers the advantages and disadvantages of CCM and highlights the evolution of this technique from a research tool to a diagnostic test for small fiber damage, which can be a valuable contribution to the study and management of autoimmune disease.
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24
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Kalteniece A, Ferdousi M, Azmi S, Khan SU, Worthington A, Marshall A, Faber CG, Lauria G, Boulton AJM, Soran H, Malik RA. Corneal nerve loss is related to the severity of painful diabetic neuropathy. Eur J Neurol 2021; 29:286-294. [PMID: 34570924 PMCID: PMC9292015 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background and purpose Previously it has been shown that patients with painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) have greater corneal nerve loss compared to patients with painless diabetic neuropathy. This study investigated if the severity of corneal nerve loss was related to the severity of PDN. Methods Participants with diabetic neuropathy (n = 118) and healthy controls (n = 38) underwent clinical and neurological evaluation, quantitative sensory testing, nerve conduction testing and corneal confocal microscopy and were categorized into those with no (n = 43), mild (n = 34) and moderate‐to‐severe (n = 41) neuropathic pain. Results Corneal nerve fibre density (p = 0.003), corneal nerve fibre length (p < 0.0001) and cold perception threshold (p < 0.0001) were lower and warm perception threshold was higher (p = 0.002) in patients with more severe pain, but there was no significant difference in the neuropathy disability score (p = 0.5), vibration perception threshold (p = 0.5), sural nerve conduction velocity (p = 0.3) and amplitude (p = 0.7), corneal nerve branch density (p = 0.06) and deep breathing heart rate variability (p = 0.08) between patients with differing severity of PDN. The visual analogue scale correlated significantly with corneal nerve fibre density (r = −0.3, p = 0.0002), corneal nerve branch density (r = −0.3, p = 0.001) and corneal nerve fibre length (r = −0.4, p < 0.0001). Receiver operating curve analysis showed that corneal nerve fibre density had an area under the curve of 0.78 with a sensitivity of 0.73 and specificity of 0.72 for the diagnosis of PDN. Conclusions Corneal confocal microscopy reveals increasing corneal nerve fibre loss with increasing severity of neuropathic pain and a good diagnostic outcome for identifying patients with PDN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alise Kalteniece
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and NIHR/Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester, UK
| | - Maryam Ferdousi
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and NIHR/Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester, UK
| | - Shazli Azmi
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and NIHR/Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester, UK
| | - Saif Ullah Khan
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and NIHR/Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester, UK
| | - Anne Worthington
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and NIHR/Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew Marshall
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Catharina G Faber
- Department of Neurology, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Giuseppe Lauria
- Neuroalgology Unit and Skin Biopsy, Peripheral Neuropathy and Neuropathic Pain Centre, IRCCS Foundation 'Carlo Besta' Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrew J M Boulton
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and NIHR/Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester, UK
| | - Handrean Soran
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and NIHR/Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester, UK
| | - Rayaz A Malik
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester and NIHR/Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester, UK.,Research Division, Qatar Foundation, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Education City, Qatar
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Worthington A, Kalteniece A, Ferdousi M, D'Onofrio L, Dhage S, Azmi S, Adamson C, Hamdy S, Malik RA, Calcutt NA, Marshall AG. Spinal Inhibitory Dysfunction in Patients With Painful or Painless Diabetic Neuropathy. Diabetes Care 2021; 44:1835-1841. [PMID: 34385346 DOI: 10.2337/dc20-2797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Impaired rate-dependent depression of the Hoffman reflex (HRDD) is a marker of spinal inhibitory dysfunction and has previously been associated with painful neuropathy in a proof-of-concept study in patients with type 1 diabetes. We have now undertaken an assessment of HRDD in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 148 participants, including 34 healthy control subjects, 42 patients with painful diabetic neuropathy, and 62 patients with diabetic neuropathy without pain, underwent an assessment of HRDD and a detailed assessment of peripheral neuropathy, including nerve conduction studies, corneal confocal microscopy, and thermal threshold testing. RESULTS Compared with healthy control subjects (P < 0.001) and patients without pain (P < 0.001), we found that HRDD is impaired in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes with neuropathic pain. These impairments are unrelated to diabetes type and the presence or severity of neuropathy. In contrast, patients without neuropathic pain (P < 0.05) exhibited enhanced HRDD compared with control subjects. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that loss or impairment of HRDD may help to identify a subpopulation of patients with painful diabetic neuropathy mediated by impaired spinal inhibitory systems who may respond optimally to therapies that target spinal or supraspinal mechanisms. Enhanced RDD in patients without pain may reflect engagement of spinal pain-suppressing mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Worthington
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, U.K
| | - Alise Kalteniece
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, U.K
| | - Maryam Ferdousi
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, U.K
| | - Luca D'Onofrio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Shaishav Dhage
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, U.K
| | - Shazli Azmi
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, U.K.,Diabetes Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, U.K
| | - Clare Adamson
- Diabetes Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, U.K
| | - Shaheen Hamdy
- Centre for Gastrointestinal Sciences, Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, U.K
| | - Rayaz A Malik
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, U.K.,Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Research Division, Qatar Foundation, Education City
| | - Nigel A Calcutt
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Andrew G Marshall
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, U.K. .,Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, U.K
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Sloan G, Selvarajah D, Tesfaye S. Pathogenesis, diagnosis and clinical management of diabetic sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2021; 17:400-420. [PMID: 34050323 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-021-00496-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Diabetic sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy (DSPN) is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus and is associated with increased mortality, lower-limb amputations and distressing painful neuropathic symptoms (painful DSPN). Our understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease has largely been derived from animal models, which have identified key potential mechanisms. However, effective therapies in preclinical models have not translated into clinical trials and we have no universally accepted disease-modifying treatments. Moreover, the condition is generally diagnosed late when irreversible nerve damage has already taken place. Innovative point-of-care devices have great potential to enable the early diagnosis of DSPN when the condition might be more amenable to treatment. The management of painful DSPN remains less than optimal; however, studies suggest that a mechanism-based approach might offer an enhanced benefit in certain pain phenotypes. The management of patients with DSPN involves the control of individualized cardiometabolic targets, a multidisciplinary approach aimed at the prevention and management of foot complications, and the timely diagnosis and management of neuropathic pain. Here, we discuss the latest advances in the mechanisms of DSPN and painful DSPN, originating both from the periphery and the central nervous system, as well as the emerging diagnostics and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon Sloan
- Diabetes Research Unit, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Dinesh Selvarajah
- Diabetes Research Unit, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Oncology and Human Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Solomon Tesfaye
- Diabetes Research Unit, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK.
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27
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Chiang JCB, Goldstein D, Park SB, Krishnan AV, Markoulli M. Corneal nerve changes following treatment with neurotoxic anticancer drugs. Ocul Surf 2021; 21:221-237. [PMID: 34144206 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2021.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Survival rates of cancer has improved with the development of anticancer drugs including systemic chemotherapeutic agents. However, long-lasting side effects could impact treated patients. Neurotoxic anticancer drugs are specific agents which cause chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a debilitating condition that severely deteriorates quality of life of cancer patients and survivors. The ocular surface is also prone to neurotoxicity but investigation into the effects of neurotoxic chemotherapy on the ocular surface has been more limited compared to other systemic etiologies such as diabetes. There is also no standardized protocol for CIPN diagnosis with an absence of a reliable, objective method of observing nerve damage structurally. As the cornea is the most densely innervated region of the body, researchers have started to focus on corneal neuropathic changes that are associated with neurotoxic chemotherapy treatment. In-vivo corneal confocal microscopy enables rapid and objective structural imaging of ocular surface microscopic structures such as corneal nerves, while esthesiometers provide means of functional assessment by examining corneal sensitivity. The current article explores the current guidelines and gaps in our knowledge of CIPN diagnosis and the potential role of in-vivo corneal confocal microscopy as a diagnostic or prognostic tool. Corneal neuropathic changes with neurotoxic anticancer drugs from animal research progressing through to human clinical studies are also discussed, with a focus on how these data inform our understanding of CIPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Chung Bo Chiang
- School of Optometry & Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - David Goldstein
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Susanna B Park
- Brain and Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Arun V Krishnan
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Maria Markoulli
- School of Optometry & Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Marshall A, Alam U, Themistocleous A, Calcutt N, Marshall A. Novel and Emerging Electrophysiological Biomarkers of Diabetic Neuropathy and Painful Diabetic Neuropathy. Clin Ther 2021; 43:1441-1456. [PMID: 33906790 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2021.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most common complication of diabetes. Small and large peripheral nerve fibers can be involved in DPN. Large nerve fiber damage causes paresthesia, sensory loss, and muscle weakness, and small nerve fiber damage is associated with pain, anesthesia, foot ulcer, and autonomic symptoms. Treatments for DPN and painful DPN (pDPN) pose considerable challenges due to the lack of effective therapies. To meet these challenges, there is a major need to develop biomarkers that can reliably diagnose and monitor progression of nerve damage and, for pDPN, facilitate personalized treatment based on underlying pain mechanisms. METHODS This study involved a comprehensive literature review, incorporating article searches in electronic databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, and OVID) and reference lists of relevant articles with the authors' substantial expertise in DPN. This review considered seminal and novel research and summarizes emerging biomarkers of DPN and pDPN that are based on neurophysiological methods. FINDINGS From the evidence gathered from 145 papers, this submission describes emerging clinical neurophysiological methods with potential to act as biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of DPN as well as putative future roles as predictors of response to antineuropathic pain medication in pDPN. Nerve conduction studies only detect large fiber damage and do not capture pathology or dysfunction of small fibers. Because small nerve fiber damage is prominent in DPN, additional biomarkers of small nerve fiber function are needed. Activation of peripheral nociceptor fibers using laser, heat, or targeted electrical stimuli can generate pain-related evoked potentials, which are an objective neurophysiological measure of damage along the small fiber pathways. Assessment of nerve excitability, which provides a surrogate of axonal properties, may detect alterations in function before abnormalities are detected by nerve conduction studies. Microneurography and rate-dependent depression of the Hoffmann-reflex can be used to dissect underlying pain-generating mechanisms arising from the periphery and spinal cord, respectively. Their role in informing mechanistic-based treatment of pDPN as well as facilitating clinical trials design is discussed. IMPLICATIONS The neurophysiological methods discussed, although currently not practical for use in busy outpatient settings, detect small fiber and early large fiber damage in DPN as well as disclosing dominant pain mechanisms in pDPN. They are suited as diagnostic and predictive biomarkers as well as end points in mechanistic clinical trials of DPN and pDPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Marshall
- Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Uazman Alam
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Themistocleous
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nigel Calcutt
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Andrew Marshall
- Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, The Walton Centre, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
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Abstract
Neuropathy is a common complication of long-term diabetes that impairs quality of life by producing pain, sensory loss and limb amputation. The presence of neuropathy in both insulin-deficient (type 1) and insulin resistant (type 2) diabetes along with the slowing of progression of neuropathy by improved glycemic control in type 1 diabetes has caused the majority of preclinical and clinical investigations to focus on hyperglycemia as the initiating pathogenic lesion. Studies in animal models of diabetes have identified multiple plausible mechanisms of glucotoxicity to the nervous system including post-translational modification of proteins by glucose and increased glucose metabolism by aldose reductase, glycolysis and other catabolic pathways. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that factors not necessarily downstream of hyperglycemia can also contribute to the incidence, progression and severity of neuropathy and neuropathic pain. For example, peripheral nerve contains insulin receptors that transduce the neurotrophic and neurosupportive properties of insulin, independent of systemic glucose regulation, while the detection of neuropathy and neuropathic pain in patients with metabolic syndrome and failure of improved glycemic control to protect against neuropathy in cohorts of type 2 diabetic patients has placed a focus on the pathogenic role of dyslipidemia. This review provides an overview of current understanding of potential initiating lesions for diabetic neuropathy and the multiple downstream mechanisms identified in cell and animal models of diabetes that may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy and neuropathic pain.
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Ferdousi M, Kalteniece A, Azmi S, Petropoulos IN, Worthington A, D'Onofrio L, Dhage S, Ponirakis G, Alam U, Marshall A, Faber CG, Lauria G, Soran H, Malik RA. Corneal confocal microscopy compared with quantitative sensory testing and nerve conduction for diagnosing and stratifying the severity of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care 2020; 8:8/2/e001801. [PMID: 33355206 PMCID: PMC7754626 DOI: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2020-001801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Diabetic neuropathy can be diagnosed and assessed using a number of techniques including corneal confocal microscopy (CCM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We have undertaken quantitative sensory testing, nerve conduction studies and CCM in 143 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes without neuropathy (n=51), mild neuropathy (n=47) and moderate to severe neuropathy (n=45) and age-matched controls (n=30). RESULTS Vibration perception threshold (p<0.0001), warm perception threshold (WPT) (p<0.001), sural nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) (p<0.001), corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) (p<0.0001), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD) (p<0.0001), corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) (p=0.002), inferior whorl length (IWL) (p=0.0001) and average nerve fiber length (ANFL) (p=0.0001) showed a progressive abnormality with increasing severity of diabetic neuropathy. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy showed comparable performance in relation to the area under the curve (AUC) but differing sensitivities and specificities for vibration perception threshold (AUC 0.79, sensitivity 55%, specificity 90%), WPT (AUC 0.67, sensitivity 50%, specificity 76%), cold perception threshold (AUC 0.64, sensitivity 80%, specificity 47%), SNCV (AUC 0.70, sensitivity 76%, specificity 54%), CNFD (AUC 0.71, sensitivity 58%, specificity 83%), CNBD (AUC 0.70, sensitivity 69%, specificity 65%), CNFL (AUC 0.68, sensitivity 64%, specificity 67%), IWL (AUC 0.72, sensitivity 70%, specificity 65%) and ANFL (AUC 0.72, sensitivity 71%, specificity 66%). CONCLUSION This study shows that CCM identifies early and progressive corneal nerve loss at the inferior whorl and central cornea and has comparable utility with quantitative sensory testing and nerve conduction in the diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Ferdousi
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Alise Kalteniece
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Shazli Azmi
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Anne Worthington
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Luca D'Onofrio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | - Shaishav Dhage
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Uazman Alam
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew Marshall
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Catharina G Faber
- Department of Neurology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands
| | - Giuseppe Lauria
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Università di Milano - Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Handrean Soran
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- University Department of Medicine, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK
| | - Rayaz A Malik
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Research Division, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar
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Gad H, Saraswathi S, Al-Jarrah B, Petropoulos IN, Ponirakis G, Khan A, Singh P, Al Khodor S, Elawad M, Almasri W, Abdelrahman H, Hussain K, Hendaus MA, Al-Mudahka F, Abouhazima K, McGrogan P, Malik RA, Akobeng AK. Corneal confocal microscopy demonstrates minimal evidence of distal neuropathy in children with celiac disease. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0238859. [PMID: 32956371 PMCID: PMC7505458 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to utilise corneal confocal microscopy to quantify corneal nerve morphology and establish the presence of sub-clinical small fibre damage and peripheral neuropathy in children with celiac disease. METHODS This is a cross-sectional cohort study of twenty children with celiac disease and 20 healthy controls who underwent clinical and laboratory assessments and corneal confocal microscopy. Corneal nerve fiber density (no.mm2), corneal nerve branch density (no.mm2), corneal nerve fiber length (mm.mm2), corneal nerve fiber tortuosity and inferior whorl length (mm.mm2) were quantified manually. RESULTS Corneal nerve fiber density (34.7±8.6 vs. 32.9±8.6; P = 0.5), corneal nerve branch density (47.2±24.5 vs. 47.3±20.0; P = 0.1) and corneal nerve fiber length (20.0±5.1 vs. 19.5±4.5; P = 0.8) did not differ between children with celiac disease and healthy controls. Corneal nerve fiber tortuosity (11.4±1.9 vs 13.5±3.0; P = 0.01) was significantly lower and inferior whorl length (20.0±5.5 vs 23.0±3.8; P = 0.06) showed a non-significant reduction in children with celiac disease compared to healthy controls. Inferior whorl length correlated significantly with corneal nerve fiber density (P = 0.005), corneal nerve branch density (P = 0.04), and corneal nerve fiber length (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION Corneal confocal microscopy demonstrates minimal evidence of neuropathy in children with celiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoda Gad
- Department Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Saras Saraswathi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Bara Al-Jarrah
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Adnan Khan
- Department Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Parul Singh
- Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Mamoun Elawad
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Wesam Almasri
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hatim Abdelrahman
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Fatma Al-Mudahka
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Khaled Abouhazima
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Paraic McGrogan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Rayaz A. Malik
- Department Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
- Institute of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony K. Akobeng
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
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Chiaramonte R, Romano M, Vecchio M. A Systematic Review of the Diagnostic Methods of Small Fiber Neuropathies in Rehabilitation. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020; 10:E613. [PMID: 32825514 PMCID: PMC7554909 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics10090613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This systematic review describes the several methods to diagnose and measure the severity of small fiber neuropathies and aims to guide the physician to define all the diagnostic approaches for adopting the best strategies described in the current literature. The search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently reviewed and came to consensus on which articles met inclusion/exclusion criteria. The authors excluded all the duplicates, animals' studies, and included the English articles in which the diagnostic measures were finalized to assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation and pharmacologic treatment of patients with small fiber neuropathies. The search identified a total of 975 articles with the keywords "small fiber neuropathy" AND "rehabilitation" OR "therapy" OR "treatment". Seventy-eight selected full-text were analyzed by the reviewers. Forty-one publications met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. Despite the range of diagnostic tools for the assessment of small fiber neuropathy, other robust trials are needed. In addition, always different diagnostic approaches are used, a unique protocol could be important for the clinicians. More research is needed to build evidence for the best diagnostic methodologies and to delineate a definitive diagnostic protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Chiaramonte
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Marcello Romano
- Neurology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Villa Sofia Cervello, 90100 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Michele Vecchio
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
- Rehabilitation Unit, AOU Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
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Røikjer J, Mørch CD, Ejskjaer N. Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Diagnosis and Treatment. Curr Drug Saf 2020; 16:2-16. [PMID: 32735526 DOI: 10.2174/1574886315666200731173113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is traditionally divided into large and small fibre neuropathy (SFN). Damage to the large fibres can be detected using nerve conduction studies (NCS) and often results in a significant reduction in sensitivity and loss of protective sensation, while damage to the small fibres is hard to reliably detect and can be either asymptomatic, associated with insensitivity to noxious stimuli, or often manifests itself as intractable neuropathic pain. OBJECTIVE To describe the recent advances in both detection, grading, and treatment of DPN as well as the accompanying neuropathic pain. METHODS A review of relevant, peer-reviewed, English literature from MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library between January 1st 1967 and January 1st 2020 was used. RESULTS We identified more than three hundred studies on methods for detecting and grading DPN, and more than eighty randomised-controlled trials for treating painful diabetic neuropathy. CONCLUSION NCS remains the method of choice for detecting LFN in people with diabetes, while a gold standard for the detection of SFN is yet to be internationally accepted. In the recent years, several methods with huge potential for detecting and grading this condition have become available including skin biopsies and corneal confocal microscopy, which in the future could represent reliable endpoints for clinical studies. While several newer methods for detecting SFN have been developed, no new drugs have been accepted for treating neuropathic pain in people with diabetes. Tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and anticonvulsants remain first line treatment, while newer agents targeting the proposed pathophysiology of DPN are being developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Røikjer
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Carsten Dahl Mørch
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Niels Ejskjaer
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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Chin JY, Yang LWY, Ji AJS, Nubile M, Mastropasqua L, Allen JC, Mehta JS, Liu YC. Validation of the Use of Automated and Manual Quantitative Analysis of Corneal Nerve Plexus Following Refractive Surgery. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020; 10:E493. [PMID: 32708510 PMCID: PMC7400400 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics10070493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Following refractive surgery, the cornea is denervated and re-innervated, hence a reproducible tool to objectively quantify this change is warranted. This study aimed to determine the repeatability and reproducibility of corneal nerve quantification between automated (ACCMetrics) and manual software (CCMetrics) following refractive surgery. A total of 1007 in vivo confocal microscopy images from 20 post-small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) or post-laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) patients were evaluated by two independent observers using CCMetrics for corneal nerve fibre density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), and corneal nerve fibre length (CNFL). Intra-observer and inter-observer reproducibility and repeatability, as well as agreement and correlation between the measurements obtained by ACCMetrics and CCMetrics, were assessed. We found that CNFL demonstrated the best intra- and inter-observer agreement followed by CNFD (intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.799 and 0.740, respectively for CNFL; 0.757 and 0.728 for CNFD). CNBD demonstrated poorest intra- and inter-observer ICC. There was an underestimation in ACCMetrics measurements compared to CCMetrics measurements, although the differences were not significant. Our data suggested that both automated and manual methods can be used as reliable tools for the evaluation of corneal nerve status following refractive surgery. However, the measurements obtained with different methods are not interchangeable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Ying Chin
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 168751, Singapore; (J.Y.C.); (L.W.Y.Y.); (A.J.S.J.); (J.S.M.)
- School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Lily Wei Yun Yang
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 168751, Singapore; (J.Y.C.); (L.W.Y.Y.); (A.J.S.J.); (J.S.M.)
| | - Angel Jung Se Ji
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 168751, Singapore; (J.Y.C.); (L.W.Y.Y.); (A.J.S.J.); (J.S.M.)
| | - Mario Nubile
- Ophthalmic Clinic, University “G d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.N.); (L.M.)
| | - Leonardo Mastropasqua
- Ophthalmic Clinic, University “G d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.N.); (L.M.)
| | - John Carson Allen
- Department of Biostatistics, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore;
| | - Jodhbir S. Mehta
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 168751, Singapore; (J.Y.C.); (L.W.Y.Y.); (A.J.S.J.); (J.S.M.)
- Department of Cornea and External Eye Disease, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore 168751, Singapore
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Yu-Chi Liu
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 168751, Singapore; (J.Y.C.); (L.W.Y.Y.); (A.J.S.J.); (J.S.M.)
- Department of Cornea and External Eye Disease, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore 168751, Singapore
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
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Gad H, Al-Jarrah B, Saraswathi S, Petropoulos IN, Ponirakis G, Khan A, Singh P, Al Khodor S, Elawad M, Almasri W, Abdelrahman H, Elawwa A, Khalifa A, Shamekh A, Al-Khalaf F, Petrovski G, Al Zyoud M, Al Maadheed M, Hendaus MA, Hussain K, Akobeng AK, Malik RA. Corneal nerve loss in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus without retinopathy or microalbuminuria. J Diabetes Investig 2020; 11:1594-1601. [PMID: 32491258 PMCID: PMC7610109 DOI: 10.1111/jdi.13313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims/Introduction Corneal confocal microscopy is a rapid, non‐invasive ophthalmic technique to identify subclinical neuropathy. The aim of this study was to quantify corneal nerve morphology in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus compared with age‐matched healthy controls using corneal confocal microscopy. Materials and Methods A total of 20 participants with type 1 diabetes mellitus (age 14 ± 2 years, diabetes duration 4.08 ± 2.91 years, glycated hemoglobin 9.3 ± 2.1%) without retinopathy or microalbuminuria and 20 healthy controls were recruited from outpatient clinics. Corneal confocal microscopy was undertaken, and corneal nerve fiber density (n/mm2), corneal nerve branch density (n/mm2), corneal nerve fiber length (mm/mm2), corneal nerve fiber tortuosity and inferior whorl length (mm/mm2) were quantified manually. Results Corneal nerve fiber density (22.73 ± 8.84 vs 32.92 ± 8.59; P < 0.001), corneal nerve branch density (26.19 ± 14.64 vs 47.34 ± 20.01; P < 0.001), corneal nerve fiber length (13.26 ± 4.06 vs 19.52 ± 4.54; P < 0.001) and inferior whorl length (15.50 ± 5.48 vs 23.42 ± 3.94; P < 0.0001) were significantly lower, whereas corneal nerve fiber tortuosity (14.88 ± 5.28 vs 13.52 ± 3.01; P = 0.323) did not differ between children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and controls. Glycated hemoglobin correlated with corneal nerve fiber tortuosity (P < 0.006) and aspartate aminotransferase correlated with corneal nerve fiber density (P = 0.039), corneal nerve branch density (P = 0.003) and corneal nerve fiber length (P = 0.037). Conclusion Corneal confocal microscopy identifies significant subclinical corneal nerve loss, especially in the inferior whorl of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus without retinopathy or microalbuminuria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoda Gad
- Medicine Department, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Bara Al-Jarrah
- Gastroenterology Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | | | - Adnan Khan
- Medicine Department, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Parul Singh
- Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Mamoun Elawad
- Gastroenterology Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Wesam Almasri
- Gastroenterology Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Ahmed Elawwa
- Endocrinology Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Amel Khalifa
- Endocrinology Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ahmed Shamekh
- Endocrinology Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Rayaz A Malik
- Medicine Department, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar.,Institute of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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van Setten GB. Impact of Attrition, Intercellular Shear in Dry Eye Disease: When Cells are Challenged and Neurons are Triggered. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4333. [PMID: 32570730 PMCID: PMC7352662 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanical component in the pathophysiology of dry eye disease (DED) deserves attention as an important factor. The lubrication deficit induced impaired mechano-transduction of lid pressure to the ocular surfaces may lead to the dysregulation of homeostasis in the epithelium, with sensations of pain and secondary inflammation. Ocular pain is possibly the first sign of attrition and may occur in the absence of visible epithelial damage. Attrition is a process which involves the constant or repeated challenge of ocular surface tissues by mechanical shear forces; it is enhanced by the thinning of corneal epithelium in severe DED. As a highly dynamic process leading to pain and neurogenic inflammation, the identification of the impact of attrition and its potential pathogenic role could add a new perspective to the current more tear film-oriented models of ocular surface disease. Treatment of DED addressing lubrication deficiencies and inflammation should also consider the decrease of attrition in order to stimulate epithelial recovery and neural regeneration. The importance of hyaluronic acid, its molecular characteristics, the extracellular matrix and autoregulative mechanisms in this process is outlined. The identification of the attrition and recognition of its impact in dry eye pathophysiology could contribute to a better understanding of the disease and optimized treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gysbert-Botho van Setten
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Karolinska Institutet, 11282 Stockholm, Sweden; ; Tel.: +46-8-672-3298
- St Eriks Eye Hospital, 11282 Stockholm, Sweden
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