Associated conditions in small fiber neuropathy – a large cohort study and review of the literature

De Greef et al. studied 921 patients with confirmed small fiber neuropathy in order to investigate the prevalence of associated conditions in SFN patients.¹ The study performed blood and urine analysis and chest X-rays on the cohort to screen for autoimmune disease, sodium channel gene mutation, diabetes mellitus, glucose intolerance, and vitamin B12 deficiency.

The study found underlying conditions in 47% of patients with confirmed SFN.

“In our cohort of 921 patients with pure SFN, an underlying condition was found in 433 patients (47%). The most prevalent conditions were immunological conditions, sodium channel gene mutations, diabetes mellitus including glucose intolerance, and vitamin B12 deficiency, and at least these entities are suggested to be tested in the diagnostic workup of potential SFN. Even if comorbidity was present at presentation, still other associated conditions were found in 26.7% after diagnostic testing.”