Corneal Confocal Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Small Fiber Neuropathy: Faster, Easier, and More Efficient Than Skin Biopsy?
Chronic pain may affect 30–50% of the world’s population and an important cause is small fiber neuropathy (SFN). Recent research suggests that autoimmune diseases may be one of the most common causes of small nerve fiber damage. There is low awareness of SFN among patients and clinicians and it is d...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Pathophysiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1873-149X/29/1/1 |
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| author | Mariia V. Lukashenko Natalia Y. Gavrilova Anna V. Bregovskaya Lidiia A. Soprun Leonid P. Churilov Ioannis N. Petropoulos Rayaz A Malik Yehuda Shoenfeld |
| author_facet | Mariia V. Lukashenko Natalia Y. Gavrilova Anna V. Bregovskaya Lidiia A. Soprun Leonid P. Churilov Ioannis N. Petropoulos Rayaz A Malik Yehuda Shoenfeld |
| author_sort | Mariia V. Lukashenko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chronic pain may affect 30–50% of the world’s population and an important cause is small fiber neuropathy (SFN). Recent research suggests that autoimmune diseases may be one of the most common causes of small nerve fiber damage. There is low awareness of SFN among patients and clinicians and it is difficult to diagnose as routine electrophysiological methods only detect large fiber abnormalities, and specialized small fiber tests, like skin biopsy and quantitative sensory testing, are not routinely available. Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a rapid, non-invasive, reproducible method for quantifying small nerve fiber degeneration and regeneration, and could be an important tool for diagnosing SFN. This review considers the advantages and disadvantages of CCM and highlights the evolution of this technique from a research tool to a diagnostic test for small fiber damage, which can be a valuable contribution to the study and management of autoimmune disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T13:33:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e146da5b3bf24b498b342cb5228510ae |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1873-149X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T13:33:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathophysiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e146da5b3bf24b498b342cb5228510ae2022-12-22T01:46:55ZengMDPI AGPathophysiology1873-149X2021-12-012911810.3390/pathophysiology29010001Corneal Confocal Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Small Fiber Neuropathy: Faster, Easier, and More Efficient Than Skin Biopsy?Mariia V. Lukashenko0Natalia Y. Gavrilova1Anna V. Bregovskaya2Lidiia A. Soprun3Leonid P. Churilov4Ioannis N. Petropoulos5Rayaz A Malik6Yehuda Shoenfeld7Laboratory Mosaic Autoimmunity, St. Petersburg State University, 199304 St. Petersburg, RussiaLaboratory Mosaic Autoimmunity, St. Petersburg State University, 199304 St. Petersburg, RussiaDepartment of endocrinology, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, 199304 St. Petersburg, RussiaLaboratory Mosaic Autoimmunity, St. Petersburg State University, 199304 St. Petersburg, RussiaLaboratory Mosaic Autoimmunity, St. Petersburg State University, 199304 St. Petersburg, RussiaDepartment of Medicine, Research Division, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha 24144, QatarDepartment of Medicine, Research Division, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha 24144, QatarLaboratory Mosaic Autoimmunity, St. Petersburg State University, 199304 St. Petersburg, RussiaChronic pain may affect 30–50% of the world’s population and an important cause is small fiber neuropathy (SFN). Recent research suggests that autoimmune diseases may be one of the most common causes of small nerve fiber damage. There is low awareness of SFN among patients and clinicians and it is difficult to diagnose as routine electrophysiological methods only detect large fiber abnormalities, and specialized small fiber tests, like skin biopsy and quantitative sensory testing, are not routinely available. Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a rapid, non-invasive, reproducible method for quantifying small nerve fiber degeneration and regeneration, and could be an important tool for diagnosing SFN. This review considers the advantages and disadvantages of CCM and highlights the evolution of this technique from a research tool to a diagnostic test for small fiber damage, which can be a valuable contribution to the study and management of autoimmune disease.https://www.mdpi.com/1873-149X/29/1/1small fiber neuropathy (SFN)confocal microscopy (CM)corneaskin biopsyautoimmune neuropathiesautoimmunity |
| spellingShingle | Mariia V. Lukashenko Natalia Y. Gavrilova Anna V. Bregovskaya Lidiia A. Soprun Leonid P. Churilov Ioannis N. Petropoulos Rayaz A Malik Yehuda Shoenfeld Corneal Confocal Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Small Fiber Neuropathy: Faster, Easier, and More Efficient Than Skin Biopsy? Pathophysiology small fiber neuropathy (SFN) confocal microscopy (CM) cornea skin biopsy autoimmune neuropathies autoimmunity |
| title | Corneal Confocal Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Small Fiber Neuropathy: Faster, Easier, and More Efficient Than Skin Biopsy? |
| title_full | Corneal Confocal Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Small Fiber Neuropathy: Faster, Easier, and More Efficient Than Skin Biopsy? |
| title_fullStr | Corneal Confocal Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Small Fiber Neuropathy: Faster, Easier, and More Efficient Than Skin Biopsy? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Corneal Confocal Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Small Fiber Neuropathy: Faster, Easier, and More Efficient Than Skin Biopsy? |
| title_short | Corneal Confocal Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Small Fiber Neuropathy: Faster, Easier, and More Efficient Than Skin Biopsy? |
| title_sort | corneal confocal microscopy in the diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy faster easier and more efficient than skin biopsy |
| topic | small fiber neuropathy (SFN) confocal microscopy (CM) cornea skin biopsy autoimmune neuropathies autoimmunity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1873-149X/29/1/1 |
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