title: C-fiber axon reflex flare size correlates with epidermal nerve fiber density in human skin biopsies.
abstract: The size of the neurogenic axon reflex flare (ARFS) has been proposed to serve as a non-invasive measure of C-fiber neuropathies. This idea is based on the observation that ARFS is often reduced in patients with small-fiber neuropathies. In this study, we compared ARFS and electrically evoked axon reflex sweating with intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENF) in patients with peripheral neuropathy in order to validate these methods against an objective standard method of diagnosing small-fiber neuropathy. ARFS was significantly correlated with IENF, while axon reflex sweating was not correlated to IENF. We conclude that measurement of ARFS is a potential objective non-invasive diagnostic tool for analysis of C-fiber function in patients with small-fiber neuropathies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bickel
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heyer
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Senger
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maihöfner
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maihoefner
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heuss
authors.forename: Max J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hilz
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Namer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D001706:Biopsy; D020405:Dermis / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004817:Epidermis / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036421:Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / Q000502:physiology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D013546:Sweating / Q000502:physiology*