Corneal Epithelial Dendritic Cell Response as a Putative Marker of Neuro-inflammation in Small Fiber Neuropathy

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 898-907
Author(s):  
Jordan T Kamel ◽  
Alexis Ceecee Zhang ◽  
Laura E. Downie
Cornea ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1114-1119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska Bucher ◽  
Christian Schneider ◽  
Tobias Blau ◽  
Claus Cursiefen ◽  
Gereon R. Fink ◽  
...  

2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiayu Fu ◽  
Ji He ◽  
Yixuan Zhang ◽  
Ziyuan Liu ◽  
Haikun Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with progressive motor system impairment, and recent evidence has identified the extra-motor involvement. Small fiber neuropathy reflecting by sensory and autonomic disturbances in ALS has been reported to accompany the motor damage. However, non-invasive assessment of this impairment and its application in disease evaluation of ALS is scarce. We aim to evaluate the use of corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) to non-invasively quantify the corneal small fiber neuropathy in ALS and explore its clinical value in assessing disease severity of ALS. Methods Sixty-six patients with ALS and 64 healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants underwent detailed clinical assessments and corneal imaging with in vivo CCM. Using ImageJ, the following parameters were quantified: corneal nerve length (IWL) and dendritic cell density (IWDC) in the inferior whorl region and corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL), nerve fiber density (CNFD), nerve branch density (CNBD), and dendritic cell density (CDC) in the peripheral region. Disease severity was evaluated using recognized scales. Results Corneal nerve lengths (IWL and CNFL) were lower while dendritic cell densities (IWDC and CDC) were higher in patients with ALS than controls in peripheral and inferior whorl regions (p < 0.05). Additionally, corneal nerve complexity in the peripheral region was greater in patients than controls with higher CNBD (p = 0.040) and lower CNFD (p = 0.011). IWL was significantly associated with disease severity (p < 0.001) and progression (p = 0.002) in patients with ALS. Patients with bulbar involvement showed significantly lower IWL (p = 0.014) and higher IWDC (p = 0.043) than patients without bulbar involvement. Conclusions CCM quantified significant corneal neuropathy in ALS, and alterations in the inferior whorl region were closely associated with disease severity. CCM could serve as a noninvasive, objective imaging tool to detect corneal small fiber neuropathy for clinical evaluation in ALS.


2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
JANE SALODOF MACNEIL

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (S 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Katsarava ◽  
Ö Yaldizli ◽  
C Voulkoudis ◽  
S Esser ◽  
HC Diener ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175628642110043
Author(s):  
Nadine Egenolf ◽  
Caren Meyer zu Altenschildesche ◽  
Luisa Kreß ◽  
Katja Eggermann ◽  
Barbara Namer ◽  
...  

Background and aims: Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is increasingly suspected in patients with pain of uncertain origin, and making the diagnosis remains a challenge lacking a diagnostic gold standard. Methods: In this case–control study, we prospectively recruited 86 patients with a medical history and clinical phenotype suggestive of SFN. Patients underwent neurological examination, quantitative sensory testing (QST), and distal and proximal skin punch biopsy, and were tested for pain-associated gene loci. Fifty-five of these patients additionally underwent pain-related evoked potentials (PREP), corneal confocal microscopy (CCM), and a quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART). Results: Abnormal distal intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) (60/86, 70%) and neurological examination (53/86, 62%) most frequently reflected small fiber disease. Adding CCM and/or PREP further increased the number of patients with small fiber impairment to 47/55 (85%). Genetic testing revealed potentially pathogenic gene variants in 14/86 (16%) index patients. QST, QSART, and proximal IENFD were of lower impact. Conclusion: We propose to diagnose SFN primarily based on the results of neurological examination and distal IENFD, with more detailed phenotyping in specialized centers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 105153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonello Viceconti ◽  
Tommaso Geri ◽  
Simone De Luca ◽  
Filippo Maselli ◽  
Giacomo Rossettini ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document