Characteristics of patients with sensory neuropathy diagnosed with abnormal small nerve fibres on skin biopsy

Clinical, laboratory and electrodiagnostic (EDX) characteristics of 62 patients with sensory neuropathy with abnormal skin biopsies were reviewed. Reduced epidermal nerve fibre density (ENFD) was seen in 71% and morphological changes with normal ENFD were seen in 29% of the patients. Patients with small fibre sensory neuropathy may have associated large fibre loss undetected by routine EDX. Identified associations included abnormal glucose metabolism, Lyme vaccination, monoclonal gammopathy, vitamin B-12 deficiency, coeliac disease, and diseases of the connective tissue, inflammatory bowel and thyroid. Sensory neuropathy remained undetermined in 50% of the patients.