title: Pruritus: an underrecognized symptom of small-fiber neuropathies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Small-fiber neuropathies (SFN) are diseases of small nerve fibers that are characterized by autonomic and sensory symptoms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to evaluate sensory symptoms, especially pruritus, in patients with SFN.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was given to patients with SFN.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 41 patients responded to the questionnaire (71.9% response rate). The most frequent sensory symptoms were burning (77.5%), pain (72.5%), heat sensations (70.2%), and numbness (67.5%). Pruritus was present in 68.3% of patients. It appeared most often in the evening, and was localized to the limbs in a distal-to-proximal gradient, although the back was the most frequent location (64%). Exacerbating factors were fatigue, xerosis, sweating, hot temperature, and stress. Cold water was an alleviating factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recall bias associated with filling out the questionnaire, relatively small sample size, and the uncontrolled, retrospective nature of the study were limitations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pruritus occurs frequently in patients with SFN and could be recognized as a possible presenting symptom, especially if there are other sensory or autonomic symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Brest, France; Laboratory of Neurosciences of Brest, University of Western Brittany, Brest, France. Electronic address: emilie.brenaut@chu-brest.fr.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brenaut
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Brest, France; Laboratory of Neurosciences of Brest, University of Western Brittany, Brest, France; Breton Competence Center of Rare Neuromuscular Diseases and Neuropathies with Cutaneous-Mucosal Symptoms, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marcorelles
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Hospital, Brest, France; Breton Competence Center of Rare Neuromuscular Diseases and Neuropathies with Cutaneous-Mucosal Symptoms, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Steeve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Genestet
authors.affiliation: Breton Competence Center of Rare Neuromuscular Diseases and Neuropathies with Cutaneous-Mucosal Symptoms, Brest, France; Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ménard
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Brest, France; Laboratory of Neurosciences of Brest, University of Western Brittany, Brest, France; Breton Competence Center of Rare Neuromuscular Diseases and Neuropathies with Cutaneous-Mucosal Symptoms, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Misery
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D004916:Erythromelalgia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: pruritus; questionnaire; sensory symptoms; small-fiber neuropathy