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ABSTRACT
Purpose/aim of the study: To date, there are no validated screening scales for small fibre neuropathy. This study investigated the small-fibre neuropathy and the symptom inventory questionnaire as well as the small fibre neuropathy screening list for small fibre neuropathy diagnosis.
Methods: Fifty-five patients were divided into small fibre neuropathy and mixed fibre damage groups. Relevant scales, nerve conduction studies and skin biopsies were performed. Relationships between the intraepidermal nerve fibre density and different scales as well as the diagnostic and cut-off values (score at which Youden's index is largest) were determined.
Results: Compared with healthy Chinese participants, 20 patients were diagnosed with small fibre neuropathy. Intraepidermal nerve fibre density was moderately and highly correlated with the small fibre neuropathy–symptom inventory questionnaire and small fibre neuropathy screening list, respectively. The diagnostic values were moderate and high for the small fibre neuropathy–symptom inventory questionnaire (cut-off value = 5, sensitivity = 80%, specificity = 81.8%) and small fibre neuropathy screening list (cut-off value = 8, sensitivity = 94.1%, specificity = 90.9%), respectively. There were no significant differences in the visual analogue scale between the small fibre neuropathy group, mixed small and large fibre neuropathy group, pure large fibre neuropathy group and the normal group.
Conclusion: Small fibre neuropathy–symptom inventory questionnaire and small fibre neuropathy screening list represent potential small fibre neuropathy screening tools.
| Abbreviations | ||
| EMG | = | electromyography |
| ENA | = | anti-extractable nuclear antigens |
| ESR | = | erythrocyte sedimentation rate |
| IENFD | = | intraepidermal nerve fibre density |
| IGT | = | impaired glucose tolerance |
| NCS | = | nerve conduction studies |
| NDS | = | neuropathy disability score |
| OGTT | = | oral glucose tolerance test |
| PGP | = | protein gene product |
| PN | = | peripheral neuropathy |
| ROC | = | receiver operating characteristic curve |
| ROC-AUC | = | area under the ROC curve |
| SFN | = | small fibre neuropathy |
| SFN–SIQ | = | small-fibre neuropathy and symptom inventory questionnaire |
| SFNSL | = | small fibre neuropathy screening list |
| VAS | = | visual analogue scale |
| WHO | = | World Health Organization |
Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest.