title: Sural nerve biopsy may predict future nerve dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sural nerve pathology in peripheral neuropathy shows correlation with clinical findings and neurophysiological tests. The aim was to investigate progression of nerve dysfunction over time in relation to a baseline nerve biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline myelinated nerve fiber density (MNFD) was assessed in sural nerve biopsies from 10 men with type 2 diabetes, 10 with impaired and 10 with normal glucose tolerance. Nerve conduction and quantitative perception thresholds were estimated at baseline and follow-up (7-10 years later).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with low MNFD (< or = 4700 fibers/mm(2)) showed decline of peroneal amplitude (P < 0.02) and conduction velocity (P < 0.04), as well as median nerve sensory amplitude (P < 0.05) and motor conduction velocity (P < 0.04) from baseline to follow-up. In linear regression analyses, diabetes influenced decline of nerve conduction. MNFD correlated negatively with body mass index (r = -0.469; P < 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low MNFD may predict progression of neurophysiological dysfunction and links obesity to myelinated nerve fiber loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Neurology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. soleyth@landspitali.is
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thrainsdottir
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rosén
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jakobsson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bakhtadze
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petersson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sundkvist
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Dahlin
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure