세섬유 신경병증

Small-Fiber Neuropathy

Small-fiber neuropathy (SFN) is a common clinical problems. The disorder is a generalized peripheral polyneuropathy that selectively involves small-diameter myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers. It is often idiopathic and typically presents with painful feet in patients over the age of 60. And autoimmune mechanisms are often suspected, but rarely identified. The clinical features consisted of painful dysesthesias and postganglionic sympathetic dysfunction, as well as reduced pinprick and temperature sensation. Although affected patients complain of neuropathic pain, this condition is often difficult to diagnose because of the few objective physical signs and normal nerve conduction studies. Diagnosis of SFN is made on the basis of the clinical features, normal nerve conduction studies, and abnormal specialized tests of small fiber function. These specialized studies include assessment of epidermal nerve fiber density as well as sudomotor, quantitative sensory, and cardiovagal testing. Unless an underlying disease is identified, treatment is usually directed toward alleviation of neuropathic pain.