Prevalence of denervation in the intrinsic foot muscles in patients with distal predominantly small fiber neuropathy.
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Authors
- Parikh, Prachi; Polston, David; Li, Yuebing
- Source
- Muscle & Nerve. May2020, Vol. 61 Issue 5, p595-599. 5p.
- Subject
- Language
- ISSN
- 0148-639X
Background: We aimed to evaluate the significance of electromyographic findings in the intrinsic foot muscles (IFMs) of patients with skin biopsy proven small fiber neuropathy (SFN).Methods: This was a single-center retrospective analysis of patients who underwent skin biopsy for intra-epidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) measurement and electrodiagnostic (EDX) study for evaluation of polyneuropathy.Results: A total of 1416 patents with normal lower extremity EDX studies proximal to the foot were included. Active denervation was seen in 16.1% of IFMs in patients with skin biopsy proven SFN and 4.1% of patients without SFN (P < .0001). Reinnervation changes without active denervation were observed in 30.4% of SFN patients and 23.8% of patients without SFN (P = .01). IENFD was lower in SFN patients with active denervation in IFMs than without (P < .0001).Conclusions: Evaluation of active denervation in the IFMs can reveal large fiber dysfunction in SFN patients with otherwise normal routine EDX findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]