Quantification of sweat gland volume and innervation in neuropathy: Correlation with thermoregulatory sweat testing.
BACKGROUND
No study has correlated thermoregulatory sweat testing (TST) with histopathologic study of sweat glands (SGs) and SG nerve fibers (SGNFs).


METHODS
We studied 10 neuropathy patients in whom anhidrosis was found by TST and 10 matched controls. Skin biopsies were taken from both anhidrotic and sweating skin and immunohistochemical staining was done for nerves and basement membrane. For each biopsy, total tissue volume, total SG volume, and total SGNF length were measured. SGNF length per biopsy volume, SG volume per biopsy volume (SG%), and SGNF length per SG volume were calculated.


RESULTS
SGNF length per biopsy volume was reduced in anhidrotic site biopsies of patients compared with controls. SG% was decreased and SGNF length per SG volume increased in patients compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest a concomitant loss of SG volume and SGNF length in neuropathy, with greater loss of SGNFs in anhidrotic skin, possibly exceeding collateral reinnervation.
Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SE, Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, USA.
Adam
A
Loavenbruck
Gwen
G
Wendelschaefer-Crabbe
Paola
P
Sandroni
William R
WR
Kennedy
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D013542:Sweat / Q000502:physiology*; D013545:Sweat Glands / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology*; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000378:metabolism
D024141:Collagen Type IV; C482860:UCHL1 protein, human; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
neuropathy; skin biopsy; small fiber neuropathy; sweat gland nerve fibers; sweat testing