title: Impaired small fiber conduction in patients with Fabry disease: a neurophysiological case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fabry disease is an inborn lysosomal storage disorder which is associated with small fiber neuropathy. We set out to investigate small fiber conduction in Fabry patients using pain-related evoked potentials (PREP).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study we prospectively studied 76 consecutive Fabry patients for electrical small fiber conduction in correlation with small fiber function and morphology. Data were compared with healthy controls using non-parametric statistical tests. All patients underwent neurological examination and were investigated with pain and depression questionnaires. Small fiber function (quantitative sensory testing, QST), morphology (skin punch biopsy), and electrical conduction (PREP) were assessed and correlated. Patients were stratified for gender and disease severity as reflected by renal function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All Fabry patients (31 men, 45 women) had small fiber neuropathy. Men with Fabry disease showed impaired cold (p < 0.01) and warm perception (p < 0.05), while women did not differ from controls. Intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) was reduced at the lower leg (p < 0.001) and the back (p < 0.05) mainly of men with impaired renal function. When investigating A-delta fiber conduction with PREP, men but not women with Fabry disease had lower amplitudes upon stimulation at face (p < 0.01), hands (p < 0.05), and feet (p < 0.01) compared to controls. PREP amplitudes further decreased with advance in disease severity. PREP amplitudes and warm (p < 0.05) and cold detection thresholds (p < 0.01) at the feet correlated positively in male patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small fiber conduction is impaired in men with Fabry disease and worsens with advanced disease severity. PREP are well-suited to measure A-delta fiber conduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Wurzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str, 11, 97080 Wurzburg, Germany. ueceyler_n@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de
authors.forename: Nurcan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Üçeyler
authors.forename: Ann-Kathrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zeller
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casanova-Molla
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wanner
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Weidemann
authors.forename: Zaza
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Katsarava
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sommer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000795:Fabry Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult