title: Small fiber abnormalities in skin biopsies of patients with benign fasciculations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether patients with benign fasciculations have evidence for axonal loss in skin biopsies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epidermal sensory and sweat gland nerve fiber densities were quantified in skin biopsies of 11 patients with benign fasciculations and no other known cause for neuropathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine of the 11 patients (82%) had significantly reduced epidermal or sweat gland nerve fiber densities at the calf or thigh, in comparison with control values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of reduced epidermal and sweat gland nerve fiber density indicates the presence of axonal loss in patients with benign fasciculations.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; and †Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Efstathia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tzatha
authors.forename: Russell L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Chin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005207:Fasciculation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*