The largest group of patients could not be etiologically defined, underlining the importance of further research on etiologic identification. Extensive work-up resulted in two thirds of the patients being assigned an etiological association. SFN can vary greatly in its symptoms and severity. This study indicates significant incidence and prevalence rates of SFN in Switzerland. The minimum prevalence was 131.5 cases/100.000 inhabitants. The estimated incidence was at least 4.4 cases/100.000 inhabitants/y. Etiology could not be determined in 35.7% of patients, who were diagnosed with idiopathic SFN 34.5% of patients had an apparently autoimmune SFN, followed by14.3% of patients with metabolic causes. A length dependent clinical pattern was seen in 79.8%. Symptoms had been present in patients for an average of 4.8 y when entering the study. This is a retrospective, observational study of sequential patients diagnosed with definite SFN (typical clinical features, normal nerve conduction studies, abnormal epidermal nerve fiber density) from the end of November 2016 to the middle of July 2019 at the Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, central Switzerland.Ī total of 84 patients (64.3% female) with a mean age of 54.7 y were analyzed. This research analyzes data from medical records to determine epidemiology, demographics, clinical characteristics and etiology of SFN.

Most individuals will need medication for nerve pain along with treatment for the underlying cause of neuropathy.There is currently insufficient clinical and epidemiological data concerning small fiber neuropathy (SFN). Sometimes small fiber neuropathy may be associated with either partial or global autonomic failure and this can be detected through autonomic testing.Įarly diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy and identifying the underlying cause helps with managing symptoms. Small fiber neuropathy can be caused by diabetes and various other types of inflammatory or noninflammatory diseases. Additional testing, such as quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing (sweat testing) or a skin biopsy is needed to make a definitive diagnosis. Routine tests, like nerve conduction studies, do not help detect small fiber neuropathy. People with small fiber neuropathy usually experience severe sharp or burning pain, with some sensory symptoms and no significant weakness in their body. Small fiber neuropathy is a painful type of neuropathy that can be difficult to detect or diagnose with routine testing.

Small pain fiber nerve conduction study