Premium
C‐fiber axon reflex flare size correlates with epidermal nerve fiber density in human skin biopsies
Author(s) -
Bickel Andreas,
Heyer Gisela,
Senger Christine,
Maihoefner Christian,
Heuss Dieter,
Hilz Max J.,
Namer Barbara
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of the peripheral nervous system
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1529-8027
pISSN - 1085-9489
DOI - 10.1111/j.1529-8027.2009.00241.x
Subject(s) - axon reflex , axon , nerve fiber , medicine , reflex , fiber , neuroscience , anatomy , anesthesia , biology , materials science , composite material
The size of the neurogenic axon reflex flare (ARFS) has been proposed to serve as a non‐invasive measure of C‐fiber neuropathies. This idea is based on the observation that ARFS is often reduced in patients with small‐fiber neuropathies. In this study, we compared ARFS and electrically evoked axon reflex sweating with intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENF) in patients with peripheral neuropathy in order to validate these methods against an objective standard method of diagnosing small‐fiber neuropathy. ARFS was significantly correlated with IENF, while axon reflex sweating was not correlated to IENF. We conclude that measurement of ARFS is a potential objective non‐invasive diagnostic tool for analysis of C‐fiber function in patients with small‐fiber neuropathies.