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Corneal confocal microscopy: A novel noninvasive means to diagnose neuropathy in patients with fabry disease
Author(s) -
Tavakoli Mitra,
Marshall Andrew,
Thompson Lorraine,
Kenny Margaret,
Waldek Stephen,
Efron Nathan,
Malik Rayaz A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.21383
Subject(s) - medicine , fabry disease , neuropathic pain , enzyme replacement therapy , sensation , nerve fiber , disease , ophthalmology , cardiology , surgery , anesthesia , anatomy , neuroscience , biology
Neuropathy is a cause of significant disability in patients with Fabry disease, yet its diagnosis is difficult. In this study we compared the novel noninvasive techniques of corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) to quantify small‐fiber pathology, and non‐contact corneal aesthesiometry (NCCA) to quantify loss of corneal sensation, with established tests of neuropathy in patients with Fabry disease. Ten heterozygous females with Fabry disease not on enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), 6 heterozygous females, 6 hemizygous males on ERT, and 14 age‐matched, healthy volunteers underwent detailed quantification of neuropathic symptoms, neurological deficits, neurophysiology, quantitative sensory testing (QST), NCCA, and CCM. All patients with Fabry disease had significant neuropathic symptoms and an elevated Mainz score. Peroneal nerve amplitude was reduced in all patients and vibration perception threshold was elevated in both male and female patients on ERT. Cold sensation (CS) threshold was significantly reduced in both male and female patients on ERT ( P < 0.02), but warm sensation (WS) and heat‐induced pain (HIP) were only significantly increased in males on ERT ( P < 0.01). However, corneal sensation assessed with NCCA was significantly reduced in female ( P < 0.02) and male ( P < 0.04) patients on ERT compared with control subjects. According to CCM, corneal nerve fiber and branch density was significantly reduced in female ( P < 0.03) and male ( P < 0.02) patients on ERT compared with control subjects. Furthermore, the severity of neuropathic symptoms and the neurological component of the Mainz Severity Score Index correlated significantly with QST and CCM. This study shows that CCM and NCCA provide a novel means to detect early nerve fiber damage and dysfunction, respectively, in patients with Fabry disease. Muscle Nerve, 2009