title: Identification of subgroups of acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis (AIGA) is a rarely encountered clinical syndrome. Sixty-five cases have been reported and 62 of them are Japanese. AIGA was further classified into 3 subgroups with idiopathic pure sudomotor failure being the most common. However, it is burdensome to diagnose AIGA and identify its subgroups. Some of the tools used to diagnose AIGA such as the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test and microneurography are not generally available.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the first Chinese patient with AIGA and review the literature to develop a flowchart for the diagnosis and identification of subgroups of AIGA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that skin biopsy is crucial for the identification of subgroups of AIGA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yin-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chieh-Shan
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Gwo-Shing
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Gim-Thean
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Khor
authors.forename: Chun-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Poyin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007007:Hypohidrosis / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male