Cutaneous nerve biopsy in patients with symptoms of small fiber neuropathy: a retrospective study

We aimed to investigate to what extent small fiber tests were abnormal in an unselected retrospective patient material with symptoms suggesting that small fiber neuropathy (SFN) could be present, and to evaluate possible gender differences. Nerve conduction studies (NCS), skin biopsy for determination of intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) and quantitative sensory testing (QST) were performed. -scores were calculated from reference materials to adjust for the effects of age and gender/height. Two hundred and three patients, 148 females and 55 males had normal NCS and were considered to have possible SFN. 45.3 % had reduced IENFD, 43.2 % of the females and 50.9 % of the males. Mean IENFD was 7.3 ± 2.6 fibers/mm in females and 6.1 ± 2.3 in males (p