Ultrastructural changes in peripheral nerves of the fingers of three vibration-exposed persons with Raynaud's phenomenon.
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.
Takeuchi
T
T
Department of Food and Nutrition, Shokei College, Kumamoto, Japan.
Takeya
M
M
Imanishi
H
H
D000368:Aged; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*