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Kim T, Lohse KR, Mackinnon SE, Philip BA. Patient Outcomes After Peripheral Nerve Injury Depend on Bimanual Dexterity and Preserved Use of the Affected Hand. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2024; 38:134-147. [PMID: 38268466 PMCID: PMC10922924 DOI: 10.1177/15459683241227222] [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] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about how peripheral nerve injury affects human performance, behavior, and life. Hand use choices are important for rehabilitation after unilateral impairment, but rarely measured, and are not changed by the normal course of rehabilitation and daily life. OBJECTIVE To identify the relationship between hand use (L/R choices), motor performance, and patient-centered outcomes. METHODS Participants (n = 48) with unilateral peripheral nerve injury were assessed for hand use via Block Building Task, Motor Activity Log, and Edinburgh Handedness Inventory; dexterity (separately for each hand) via Nine-Hole Peg Test, Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test, and a precision drawing task; patient-centered outcomes via surveys of disability, activity participation, and health-related quality of life; and injury-related factors including injury cause and affected nerve. Factor Analysis of Mixed Data was used to explore relationships between these variables. The data were analyzed under 2 approaches: comparing dominant hand (DH) versus non-dominant hand (NH), or affected versus unaffected hand. RESULTS The data were best explained by 5 dimensions. Good patient outcomes were associated with NH performance, DH performance (separately and secondarily to NH performance), and preserved function and use of the affected hand; whereas poor patient outcomes were associated with preserved but unused function of the affected hand. CONCLUSION After unilateral peripheral nerve injury, hand function, hand usage, and patient life arise from a complex interaction of many factors. To optimize rehabilitation after unilateral impairment, new rehabilitation methods are needed to promote performance and use with the NH, as well as the injured hand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taewon Kim
- Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Keith R Lohse
- Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Susan E. Mackinnon
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Benjamin A. Philip
- Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
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Nakagawa N, Yamamoto S, Hanai A, Oiwa A, Arao H. Exercise intervention for the management of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1346099. [PMID: 38352137 PMCID: PMC10861771 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1346099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Although exercise is recommended for cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), the effective types of exercise for preventing and treating CIPN remain unclear. This systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to evaluate the comparative effects of exercise on CIPN. Methods We included relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified in a 2019 systematic review that evaluated the effects of exercise on CIPN and conducted an additional search for RCTs published until 2023. We evaluated the risk of bias for each RCT; the comparative effectiveness of exercise on patient-reported quality of life (QOL) through an NMA; and the effectiveness of exercise on QOL scores, patient-reported CIPN symptoms, and pain through additional meta-analyses. Results Twelve studies (exercise, n = 540; control, n = 527) comparing 8 exercise interventions were included in the analysis. All studies were determined to have a high risk of bias. The meta-analyses showed significantly improved QOL [standard mean differences (SMD) 0.45; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.12 to 0.78] and CIPN symptoms (SMD 0.46; 95% CI = 0.11 to 0.82). No severe adverse events were reported. Pain tended to improve with exercise (SMD 0.84; 95% CI = -0.11 to 1.80). An NMA suggested that the interventions of a combination of balance and strength training showed a significant improvement in QOL scores compared to the control. Conclusion Exercise interventions may be beneficial for improving QOL and CIPN symptoms. High-quality large clinical trials and data are needed to conclude that exercise is beneficial and safe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsuki Nakagawa
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sena Yamamoto
- Division of Health Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akiko Hanai
- Advanced Data Science Project, RIKEN, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ayano Oiwa
- Division of Pain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Harue Arao
- Division of Health Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
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Bernard A, Mroué M, Bourthoumieu S, Boyce M, Richard L, Sturtz F, Demiot C, Danigo A. Netazepide, an Antagonist of Cholecystokinin Type 2 Receptor, Prevents Vincristine-Induced Sensory Neuropathy in Mice. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:144. [PMID: 38399359 PMCID: PMC10892341 DOI: 10.3390/ph17020144] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Among the vinca-alkaloid class, vincristine is a potent chemotherapeutic agent with significant neurotoxic effects and is employed to address a wide spectrum of cancer types. Recently, the therapeutic potential of the cholecystokinin type 2 receptor (CCK2R) as a target for vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) was demonstrated. In this study, the impact of preventive CCK2R blockade using netazepide (Trio Medicines Ltd., London, UK) was investigated in a mouse model of vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy. Netazepide is a highly selective CCK2R antagonist under development for the treatment of patients with gastric neuroendocrine tumors caused by hypergastrinemia secondary to chronic autoimmune atrophic gastritis. Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy was induced by intraperitoneal injections of vincristine at 100 µg/kg/d for 7 days (D0 to D7). Netazepide (2 mg/kg/d or 5 mg/kg/d, per os) was administered one day before vincristine treatment until D7. Vincristine induced a high tactile allodynia from D1 to D7. VIPN was characterized by dorsal root ganglion neuron (DRG) and intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) loss, and enlargement and loss of myelinated axons in the sciatic nerve. Netazepide completely prevented the painful symptoms and nerve injuries induced by vincristine. In conclusion, the fact that netazepide protected against vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy in a mouse model strongly supports the assessment of its therapeutic potential in patients receiving such chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Bernard
- NeurIT Neuropathies et Innovations Thérapeutiques UR 20218, Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Limoges, 87025 Limoges, France; (A.B.); (M.M.); (S.B.); (L.R.); (F.S.); (C.D.)
| | - Mohamad Mroué
- NeurIT Neuropathies et Innovations Thérapeutiques UR 20218, Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Limoges, 87025 Limoges, France; (A.B.); (M.M.); (S.B.); (L.R.); (F.S.); (C.D.)
| | - Sylvie Bourthoumieu
- NeurIT Neuropathies et Innovations Thérapeutiques UR 20218, Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Limoges, 87025 Limoges, France; (A.B.); (M.M.); (S.B.); (L.R.); (F.S.); (C.D.)
- Department of Cytogenetic, Medical Genetic and Reproduction Biology, University Hospital of Limoges, 87042 Limoges, France
| | - Malcolm Boyce
- Hammersmith Medicines Research Limited and Trio Medicines Limited, 44 Cumberland Avenue, London NW10 7EW, UK;
| | - Laurence Richard
- NeurIT Neuropathies et Innovations Thérapeutiques UR 20218, Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Limoges, 87025 Limoges, France; (A.B.); (M.M.); (S.B.); (L.R.); (F.S.); (C.D.)
- Department of Neurology, Reference Center for Rare Peripheral Neuropathies, University Hospital of Limoges, 87042 Limoges, France
| | - Franck Sturtz
- NeurIT Neuropathies et Innovations Thérapeutiques UR 20218, Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Limoges, 87025 Limoges, France; (A.B.); (M.M.); (S.B.); (L.R.); (F.S.); (C.D.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University Hospital of Limoges, 87042 Limoges, France
| | - Claire Demiot
- NeurIT Neuropathies et Innovations Thérapeutiques UR 20218, Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Limoges, 87025 Limoges, France; (A.B.); (M.M.); (S.B.); (L.R.); (F.S.); (C.D.)
- Transversal and Territorial Therapeutic Education Unit (UTTEP87), University Hospital of Limoges, 87042 Limoges, France
| | - Aurore Danigo
- NeurIT Neuropathies et Innovations Thérapeutiques UR 20218, Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Limoges, 87025 Limoges, France; (A.B.); (M.M.); (S.B.); (L.R.); (F.S.); (C.D.)
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4
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Akbar M, Wandy A, Soraya GV, Goysal Y, Lotisna M, Basri MI. Sudomotor dysfunction in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and its testing modalities: A literature review. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18184. [PMID: 37539131 PMCID: PMC10393629 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Long term consequences of diabetes mellitus (DM) may include multi-organ complications such as retinopathy, cardiovascular disease, neuronal, and kidney damage. One of the most prevalent complication is diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), occurring in half of all diabetics, and is the main cause of disability globally with profound impact on a patient's quality of life. Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) can develop in the pre-diabetes stage preceding large fiber damage in DPN. Asymptomatic SFN is difficult to diagnose in early stages, with sudomotor dysfunction considered one of the earliest manifestations of autonomic neuropathy. Early detection is crucial as it can prevent potential cardiovascular events. Although punch skin biopsy is the gold-standard method for SFN diagnosis, implementation as routine screening is hindered due to its invasive, impractical, and time-consuming nature. Other sudomotor testing modalities, most of which evaluate the postganglionic cholinergic sympathetic nervous system, have been developed with varying sensitivity and specificity for SFN diagnosis. Here, we provide an overview on the general mechanism of DPN, the importance of sudomotor assessment for early detection of autonomic dysfunction in DPN, the benefits and disadvantages of current testing modalities, factors that may affect testing, and the importance of future discoveries on sudomotor testing for successful DPN diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Akbar
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Alvian Wandy
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Gita Vita Soraya
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Yudy Goysal
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Mimi Lotisna
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Muhammad Iqbal Basri
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
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Metwally NAE, Hasan MM, Abd Elaziz AES, Elhadad AF, Ibraheem KS, Ali MAA, Elsalam HAA. Assessment of intraepidermal nerve fiber density and neurophysiological studies in patients with idiopathic polyneuropathy. THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROSURGERY 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s41983-022-00548-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Idiopathic polyneuropathy is an asymmetrical, length-dependent neuropathy in which neurophysiology demonstrates axonal damage involving large fibers, along with insidious onset and slow progression over 6 months, with no identified etiology in spite of thorough investigations. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic role of clinical, electrophysiological, and histopathological studies in patients with idiopathic polyneuropathy.
Methods
Case–control study included 20 patients with clinical and neurophysiological evidence of sensory or sensory–motor neuropathy with no apparent etiology after laboratory investigation were recruited from 127 patients with sensory–motor neuropathy of unknown etiology (the patients group). Twenty apparently healthy individuals, age- and sex-matched, with no neuropathy symptoms (the control group), were recruited from the Neurology Clinic of Al-Azhar University, Assuit.
Results
Age of onset of patients with idiopathic polyneuropathy (44–70) years, duration of illness (1–6) years, 60% had painful neuropathy, diagnostic neuropathic pain questioner (DN4 score) (5–7), abnormal pin brick (80%), abnormal vibration (90%), abnormal fine touch (75%), distal weakness (70%), and lost ankle reflex (90%). In the control group, there were substantial differences with respect to prolonged latency, diminished sympathetic skin response amplitude, and significant intraepidermal nerve fiber density reduction in skin biopsy cases. In diagnosing idiopathic polyneuropathy, the specificity and sensitivity of sympathetic skin response were (80–86)% and (81–89.5)%, respectively, whereas those of diminished intraepidermal nerve fiber density were (92.5%) and (97.5%), respectively.
Conclusion
The assessment of intraepidermal nerve fiber density had an important good diagnostic role in cases presented with polyneuropathy.
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Holmes SA, Karapanagou A, Staffa SJ, Zurakowski D, Borra R, Simons LE, Sieberg C, Lebel A, Borsook D. DTI and MTR Measures of Nerve Fiber Integrity in Pediatric Patients With Ankle Injury. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:656843. [PMID: 34660471 PMCID: PMC8511521 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.656843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute peripheral nerve injury can lead to chronic neuropathic pain. Having a standardized, non-invasive method to evaluate pathological changes in a nerve following nerve injury would help with diagnostic and therapeutic assessments or interventions. The accurate evaluation of nerve fiber integrity after injury may provide insight into the extent of pathology and a patient's level of self-reported pain. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the extent to which peripheral nerve integrity could be evaluated in an acute ankle injury cohort and how markers of nerve fiber integrity correlate with self-reported pain levels in afferent nerves. We recruited 39 pediatric participants with clinically defined neuropathic pain within 3 months of an ankle injury and 16 healthy controls. Participants underwent peripheral nerve MRI using diffusion tensor (DTI) and magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) of their injured and non-injured ankles. The imaging window was focused on the branching point of the sciatic nerve into the tibial and fibular division. Each participant completed the Pain Detection Questionnaire (PDQ). Findings demonstrated group differences in DTI and MTI in the sciatic, tibial and fibular nerve in the injured ankle relative to healthy control and contralateral non-injured nerve fibers. Only AD and RD from the injured fibular nerve correlated with PDQ scores which coincides with the inversion-dominant nature of this particular ankle injuruy cohort. Exploratory analyses highlight the potential remodeling stages of nerve injury from neuropathic pain. Future research should emphasize sub-acute time frames of injury to capture post-injury inflammation and nerve fiber recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Holmes
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Anastasia Karapanagou
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Steven J. Staffa
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - David Zurakowski
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ronald Borra
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Laura E. Simons
- Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Christine Sieberg
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Alyssa Lebel
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - David Borsook
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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Kelley MA, Hackshaw KV. Intraepidermal Nerve Fiber Density as Measured by Skin Punch Biopsy as a Marker for Small Fiber Neuropathy: Application in Patients with Fibromyalgia. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:536. [PMID: 33802768 PMCID: PMC8002511 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11030536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is a type of peripheral neuropathy that occurs from damage to the small A-delta and C nerve fibers that results in the clinical condition known as SFN. This pathology may be the result of metabolic, toxic, immune-mediated, and/or genetic factors. Small fiber symptoms can be variable and inconsistent and therefore require an objective biomarker confirmation. Small fiber dysfunction is not typically captured by diagnostic tests for large-fiber neuropathy (nerve conduction and electromyographic study). Therefore, skin biopsies stained with PGP 9.5 are the universally recommended objective test for SFN, with quantitative sensory tests, autonomic function testing, and corneal confocal imaging as secondary or adjunctive choices. Fibromyalgia (FM) is a heterogenous syndrome that has many symptoms that overlap with those found in SFN. A growing body of research has shown approximately 40-60% of patients carrying a diagnosis of FM have evidence of SFN on skin punch biopsy. There is currently no clearly defined phenotype in FM at this time to suggest whom may or may not have SFN, though research suggests it may correlate with severe cases. The skin punch biopsy provides an objective tool for use in quantifying small fiber pathology in FM. Skin punch biopsy may also be repeated for surveillance of the disease as well as measuring response to treatments. Evaluation of SFN in FM allows for better classification of FM and guidance for patient care as well as validation for their symptoms, leading to better use of resources and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary A. Kelley
- Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Kevin V. Hackshaw
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78712, USA;
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Peripheral Neuropathy under Oncologic Therapies: A Literature Review on Pathogenetic Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041980. [PMID: 33671327 PMCID: PMC7922628 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Peripheral neurologic complications are frequent adverse events during oncologic treatments and often lead to dose reduction, administration delays with time elongation of the therapeutic plan and, not least, worsening of patients’ quality of life. Experience skills are required to recognize symptoms and clinical evidences and the collaboration between different health professionals, in particular oncologists and hospital pharmacists, grants a correct management of this undesirable occurrence. Some classes of drugs (platinates, vinca alkaloids, taxanes) typically develop this kind of side effect, but the genesis of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is not linked to a single mechanism. This paper aims from one side at summarizing and explaining all the scattering mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy through a detailed literature revision, on the other side at finding new approaches to possible treatments, in order to facilitate the collaboration between oncologists, hematologists and hospital pharmacists.
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Contribution of Skin Biopsy in Peripheral Neuropathies. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10120989. [PMID: 33333929 PMCID: PMC7765344 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10120989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last three decades the study of cutaneous innervation through 3 mm-punch-biopsy has provided an important contribution to the knowledge of small fiber somatic and autonomic neuropathies but also of large fiber neuropathies. Skin biopsy is a minimally invasive technique with the advantage, compared to sural nerve biopsy, of being suitable to be applied to any site in our body, of being repeatable over time, of allowing the identification of each population of nerve fiber through its target. In patients with symptoms and signs of small fiber neuropathy the assessment of IntraEpidermal Nerve Fiber density is the gold standard to confirm the diagnosis while the quantification of sudomotor, pilomotor, and vasomotor nerve fibers allows to evaluate and characterize the autonomic involvement. All these parameters can be re-evaluated over time to monitor the disease process and to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatments. Myelinated fibers and their receptors can also be evaluated to detect a “dying back” neuropathy early when nerve conduction study is still normal. Furthermore, the morphometry of dermal myelinated fibers has provided new insight into pathophysiological mechanisms of different types of inherited and acquired large fibers neuropathies. In genetic neuropathies skin biopsy has become a surrogate for sural nerve biopsy, no longer necessary in the diagnostic process, to study genotype–phenotype correlations.
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A Systematic Review of Pharmacologic and Rehabilitative Treatment of Small Fiber Neuropathies. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020; 10:diagnostics10121022. [PMID: 33260566 PMCID: PMC7761307 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics10121022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this systematic review is to guide the physician in defining the pharmacologic and rehabilitative therapeutic approaches for adopting the best strategies described in the current literature. The search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science to identify the treatment of small fiber neuropathies. Two reviewers independently reviewed and came to a consensus on which articles met inclusion/exclusion criteria. The authors excluded the duplicates, animal studies and included the English articles in which the treatment of patients with small fiber neuropathies was described. 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-two publications met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review to describe the rehabilitative and pharmacologic treatment of small fiber neuropathies. Despite the range of different protocols of treatment for small fiber neuropathy, other robust trials are needed. In addition, always different therapeutic approaches are used; a unique protocol could be important for the clinicians. More research is needed to build evidence for the best strategy and to delineate a definitive therapeutic protocol.
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