Small nerve fiber involvement in patients referred for fibromyalgia

Maria Pia Giannoccaro; Vincenzo Donadio; Alex Incensi; Patrizia Avoni; Rocco Liguori

doi:10.1002/mus.24156

Small nerve fiber involvement in patients referred for fibromyalgia

Maria Pia Giannoccaro, Vincenzo Donadio, Alex Incensi, Patrizia Avoni, Rocco Liguori

Istituto Scienze Neurologiche

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic syndrome characterized by widespread pain often accompanied by other symptoms suggestive of neuropathic pain. We evaluated patients for small fiber neuropathy (SFN) who were referred for fibromyalgia (FM). Methods: We studied 20 consecutive subjects with primary FM. Patients underwent neurological examination, nerve conduction studies, and skin biopsies from distal leg and thigh. Results: Electrodiagnostic studies were normal in all patients. SFN was diagnosed in 6 patients by reduced epidermal nerve fiber density. These patients also showed abnormalities of both adrenergic and cholinergic fibers. Conclusions: A subset of FM subjects have SFN, which may contribute to their sensory and autonomic symptoms. Skin biopsy should be considered in the diagnostic work-up of FM.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	757-759
Number of pages	3
Journal	Muscle and Nerve
Volume	49
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.24156
Publication status	Published - 2014

Keywords

Autonomic dysfunction
Fibromyalgia
Neuropathic pain
Skin biopsy
Small fiber neuropathy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Neurology
Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Physiology (medical)
Physiology

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title = "Small nerve fiber involvement in patients referred for fibromyalgia",

abstract = "Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic syndrome characterized by widespread pain often accompanied by other symptoms suggestive of neuropathic pain. We evaluated patients for small fiber neuropathy (SFN) who were referred for fibromyalgia (FM). Methods: We studied 20 consecutive subjects with primary FM. Patients underwent neurological examination, nerve conduction studies, and skin biopsies from distal leg and thigh. Results: Electrodiagnostic studies were normal in all patients. SFN was diagnosed in 6 patients by reduced epidermal nerve fiber density. These patients also showed abnormalities of both adrenergic and cholinergic fibers. Conclusions: A subset of FM subjects have SFN, which may contribute to their sensory and autonomic symptoms. Skin biopsy should be considered in the diagnostic work-up of FM.",

keywords = "Autonomic dysfunction, Fibromyalgia, Neuropathic pain, Skin biopsy, Small fiber neuropathy",

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journal = "Muscle and Nerve",

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T1 - Small nerve fiber involvement in patients referred for fibromyalgia

AU - Giannoccaro, Maria Pia

AU - Donadio, Vincenzo

AU - Incensi, Alex

AU - Avoni, Patrizia

AU - Liguori, Rocco

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic syndrome characterized by widespread pain often accompanied by other symptoms suggestive of neuropathic pain. We evaluated patients for small fiber neuropathy (SFN) who were referred for fibromyalgia (FM). Methods: We studied 20 consecutive subjects with primary FM. Patients underwent neurological examination, nerve conduction studies, and skin biopsies from distal leg and thigh. Results: Electrodiagnostic studies were normal in all patients. SFN was diagnosed in 6 patients by reduced epidermal nerve fiber density. These patients also showed abnormalities of both adrenergic and cholinergic fibers. Conclusions: A subset of FM subjects have SFN, which may contribute to their sensory and autonomic symptoms. Skin biopsy should be considered in the diagnostic work-up of FM.

AB - Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic syndrome characterized by widespread pain often accompanied by other symptoms suggestive of neuropathic pain. We evaluated patients for small fiber neuropathy (SFN) who were referred for fibromyalgia (FM). Methods: We studied 20 consecutive subjects with primary FM. Patients underwent neurological examination, nerve conduction studies, and skin biopsies from distal leg and thigh. Results: Electrodiagnostic studies were normal in all patients. SFN was diagnosed in 6 patients by reduced epidermal nerve fiber density. These patients also showed abnormalities of both adrenergic and cholinergic fibers. Conclusions: A subset of FM subjects have SFN, which may contribute to their sensory and autonomic symptoms. Skin biopsy should be considered in the diagnostic work-up of FM.

KW - Autonomic dysfunction

KW - Fibromyalgia

KW - Neuropathic pain

KW - Skin biopsy

KW - Small fiber neuropathy

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