title: Potential Role of In Vivo Confocal Microscopy for Imaging Corneal Nerves in Transthyretin Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy.
abstract: Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is an important feature of transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP). A practical and objective method for the clinical evaluation of SFN is needed to improve the management of this disease. In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) of the corneal nerves, a rapid noninvasive technique, may be used as a surrogate marker of SFN.
  
  
  
  To determine the correlation of SFN with IVCM in patients with TTR-FAP.
  
  
  
  A prospective, single-center, cross-sectional controlled study was conducted at the French National Reference Center for TTR-FAP from June 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014. Fifteen patients with TTR-FAP underwent a complete neurologic examination, including Neuropathy Impairment Score of the Lower Limbs, hand grip strength, and evaluation of vegetative dysfunction, as well as electrophysiologic studies (nerve conduction and electrochemical skin conductance) and intraepidermal nerve fiber density quantification. Patients and 15 controls (matched for age and sex) underwent ophthalmologic assessments, including corneal esthesiometry and IVCM.
  
  
  
  Correlation of corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) with the severity of SFN.
  
  
  
  Of the 15 patients enrolled in the study, 6 were women (40%); mean (SD) age was 54.4 [13.7] years. The CNFL was shorter in the patients than in controls (13.08 vs 17.57 mm/mm2; difference of 4.49 [95% CI, 0.72 to 8.27]; P = .02). The patients' CNFL correlated with the severity of both autonomic neuropathy assessed by the Compound Autonomic Dysfunction Test (rs = 0.66 [95% CI, 0.22 to 0.87]; P = .008) or electrochemical skin conductance (rs = 0.80 [95% CI, 0.50 to 0.93]; P < .001) and sensorimotor neuropathy assessed using the Neuropathy Impairment Score of the Lower Limbs (rs = -0.58 [95% CI, -0.84 to -0.11]; P = .02). Patients with altered sensory nerve action potentials and intraepidermal nerve fiber density had a shorter CNFL (P = .04 and P = .02, respectively). The CNFL could be measured in all patients compared with sensory nerve action potentials (11 patients [73%; 95% CI, 44% to 92%]; P < .001) and intraepidermal nerve fiber density (4 patients [27%; 95% CI, 8% to 55%]; P < .001).
  
  
  
  In these 15 patients with TTR-FAP, IVCM measurement permitted rapid, noninvasive evaluation of small-fiber alterations in patients and could be used to assess SFN in this setting. The CNFL could be measured in all patients, thus avoiding the floor effect seen with other neuropathy measures. Longitudinal studies with more cases evaluated are needed to define the place of IVCM in monitoring patients with TTR-FAP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Département Hospitalo-Universitaire Vision and Handicaps, Paris-Sud University, French Reference Center for Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy and Other Rare Neuropathies, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rousseau
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris-Sud University, Institut pour la Recherche Médicale U 1195, French Reference Center for Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy and Other Rare Neuropathies, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Cecile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cauquil
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Quinze-Vingts National Eye Center, Paris, France4Department of Ophthalmology, Ambroise Paré Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Département Hospitalo-Universitaire Vision and Handicaps, Boulogne-Billancourt, France5Department of Ophthalmology, Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, Versailles, France.
authors.forename: Benedicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dupas
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Quinze-Vingts National Eye Center, Paris, France4Department of Ophthalmology, Ambroise Paré Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Département Hospitalo-Universitaire Vision and Handicaps, Boulogne-Billancourt, France5Department of Ophthalmology, Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, Versailles, France.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Labbé
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Quinze-Vingts National Eye Center, Paris, France4Department of Ophthalmology, Ambroise Paré Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Département Hospitalo-Universitaire Vision and Handicaps, Boulogne-Billancourt, France5Department of Ophthalmology, Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, Versailles, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baudouin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Département Hospitalo-Universitaire Vision and Handicaps, Paris-Sud University, French Reference Center for Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy and Other Rare Neuropathies, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barreau
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris-Sud University, Institut pour la Recherche Médicale U 1195, French Reference Center for Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy and Other Rare Neuropathies, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Théaudin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris-Sud University, Institut pour la Recherche Médicale U 1195, French Reference Center for Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy and Other Rare Neuropathies, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France6Department of Pathology, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris-Sud University, French Reference Center for Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy and Other Rare Neuropathies, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lacroix
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris-Sud University, French Reference Center for Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy and Other Rare Neuropathies, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guiochon-Mantel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomathematics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Paris-Sud University, Chatenay-Malabry, France.
authors.forename: Anouar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benmalek
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Département Hospitalo-Universitaire Vision and Handicaps, Paris-Sud University, French Reference Center for Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy and Other Rare Neuropathies, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Labetoulle
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris-Sud University, Institut pour la Recherche Médicale U 1195, French Reference Center for Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy and Other Rare Neuropathies, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D028227:Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003315:Cornea / Q000294:innervation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index