皮肤神经活体组织检查在周围神经病诊断中的应用

目的 探讨皮肤神经活体组织检查在周围神经病诊断中的作用,建立正常参考值范围,并比较临床表现、神经电生理检查与表皮神经纤维病变的一致性.方法 对51例有周围神经病症状和(或)体征的患者进行皮肤神经活体组织检查,计算表皮神经纤维密度(IENFD);同时收集10名健康志愿者作为对照.51例患者中,41例行常规肌电图及神经传导速度(NCV)检查.21例行皮肤交感反射(SSR),比较IENFD与NCV及SSR的一致性.结果 对照组与病例组相比,大腿IENFD(根/mm)分别为21.4±2.7及15.0±6.3(t=2.976,P=0.004);小腿IENFD分别为15.4±2.2及8.1±5.9(t=3.191,P=0.002).病例组与对照组相比大、小腿IENFD均有减少,差异有统计学意义.51例患者中,皮肤神经活体组织检查异常48例(94.1%),其中33例表现为长度依赖性周围神经病变;41例行常规肌电图检查,21例异常(51.2%);21例行SSR检查,异常17例(81.0%).仅表现为小纤维病变症状和(或)体征的29例患者中,27例(93.1%)皮肤神经活体组织检查异常;其中20例行NCV,异常6例(30.0%);14例行SSR,11例异常.结论 皮肤神经活体组织检查操作简单安全,对于以小神经纤维受累为主的周围神经病皮肤神经活体组织检查有较高的灵敏度.

Skin nerve biopsy in the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy

Objective To find out a reference range of epidermal nerve fiber density in normal humans and compare the concordance between clinical features, electrophysiology and the results of skin biopsy. Methods Fifty-one patients with peripheral neuropathy and 10 normal controls were studied. Skin biopsies were obtained from distal leg and/or proximal leg and nerves identified using immunohistochemistry with antibody against protein gene product (PGP) 9. 5. Forty-one in 51 performed routine nerve conduction vdocity and electromyography, 21 in 51 performed sympathetic skin response(SSR). The concordance of the consequences was compared. Results Intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) was (21.4 + 2. 7) /mm in thigh and (15.4±2. 2) /mm in the distal part of the leg in normal controls. IENFD was (15.0± 6. 3)/mm and (8. 1±5.9) /mm in patients. The intraepidermal nerve fiber density was significantly lower in the patients than in the normal controls both in proximal (t = 2. 976, P = 0.004) and distal legs (t= 3.191, P=0.002). Forty-eight out of 51 patients showed abnormalities in skin biopsy, among which 33 patients had length-dependent neuropathy. In the group of abnormal skin biopsy, 41 received routine electrophysiology, among which 21 (51.2%) were abnormal and they were performed SSR, turning out that 17 (81.0%) were abnormal. In 29 patients who had only small fiber neuropathy, 27(93. 1%) showed abnormalities in skin biopsy, out of whom 20 were performed routine electromyography, and it identified that 6 (30. 0%) were abnormaL In 14 receiving SSR, 11 were abnormal. Conclusion Skin biopsy is safe and tolerable, which has a higher sensitivity especially in small fiber neuropathy.