Open AccessUltrastructural changes in peripheral nerves of the fingers of three vibration-exposed persons with Raynaud's phenomenon.
Author(s) -
Tadao Takeuchi,
Motohiro Takeya,
Hiroyasu Imanishi
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of work, environment and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.621
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1795-990X
pISSN - 0355-3140
DOI - 10.5271/sjweh.1953
Subject(s) - endoneurium , perineurium , ultrastructure , pathology , anatomy , epineurium , fibrosis , nerve biopsy , peripheral nerve , biopsy , electron microscope , peripheral neuropathy , chemistry , medicine , endocrinology , physics , optics , diabetes mellitus
A finger biopsy was performed on three patients with vibration-induced white finger (VWF), and the specimens were examined by electron microscopy for peripheral nerve changes. A characteristic neuropathy with perineurial fibrosis was revealed which was often accompanied by a thickened perineurium with a lamellar structure resembling onion skin. This peculiar fibrosis consisted of elongated cytoplasmic projections of perineurial cells or fibroblasts and a greatly increased amount of collagen which occasionally contained fibrous long-spacing collagen. In the endoneurium, a decrease in the number of nerve fibers and a marked increase in collagen with fibroblasts were noted. Myelinated axons became smaller, and this occurrence suggested incomplete regeneration. The pathological changes were presumably the result of the long-term clinical course of VWF.