title: Small fibers, large impact: quality of life in small-fiber neuropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The impact of small-fiber neuropathy (SFN) on patients' quality of life (QOL) has not been studied extensively. Our aim was to determine the impact of SFN on QOL and examine possible determinants.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined a total of 265 patients diagnosed with SFN. The SFN Symptoms Inventory Questionnaire (SFN-SIQ), the pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the generic SF-36 Health Survey were assessed. Regression studies were undertaken to evaluate determinants of functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SFN patients demonstrated a severe overall reduction in QOL. The biggest deficits were in Role Functioning-Physical, Body Pain, and Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores. VAS scores, changed sweating pattern, dry mouth, and age were the strongest predictors for PCS, explaining 32% of the QOL decrease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SFN leads to a reduction in overall QOL. The presence of pain and some autonomic symptoms explained only a small portion of the findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mayienne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakkers
authors.forename: Catharina G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: Janneke G J
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hoeijmakers
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lauria
authors.forename: Ingemar S J
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Merkies
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D013972:Thyrotropin
keywords: clinimetric evaluation; pain; polyneuropathy; quality of life; small-fiber neuropathy