[Small fiber neuropathy]

Abstract

A common sign of distal small fibre neuropathy is dysesthesias, especially burning sensation distally in the extremities. These symptoms are often difficult to treat with conventional analgesics. In the course of the disease, the patient may become less sensitive to pain and changes in temperature, but clinical signs may nevertheless be minor and often difficult to detect by clinical examination. Dysautonomic features are also common. Selective affection of small fibres may occur in the form of pure small fibre neuropathy, but this may also be an early manifestation of general sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Common causes are diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, and amyloidosis. Abnormalities in small diameter fibres may be detected by quantitative sensory testing of temperature and pain thresholds, and by autonomic tests. We describe four patients with polyneuropathy with a predominance of small fibre involvement.