Knowra Small fiber neuropathy Small fiber neuropathy Small fiber neuropathy is damage to thinly myelinated Aδ fibers and unmyelinated C fibers, which carry pain, temperature, and autonomic signals. It can cause burning pain, altered sensation, and autonomic symptoms.
Aδ fiber : A thinly myelinated sensory nerve fiber that carries fast pain and cold signals. Damage to these fibers can impair sharp-pain and temperature sensation.
Skin biopsy : A procedure that removes a small sample of skin for microscopic examination. A distal-leg biopsy can be used to measure intraepidermal nerve fiber density.
Prediabetes : A metabolic state in which blood glucose is above normal but below the threshold for diabetes. Impaired glucose regulation may be considered when investigating small-fiber symptoms.
Large fiber neuropathy : Peripheral nerve damage affecting large myelinated fibers that carry vibration, position, and motor signals. It more often impairs vibration, balance, and reflexes than isolated small-fiber disease.
C fiber : An unmyelinated nerve fiber that carries slow pain, warmth, itch, and many autonomic signals. Damage to C fibers is associated with burning pain and some autonomic symptoms.
QSART : The quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test, which measures sweat responses after a chemical stimulus. It can assess postganglionic sympathetic small-fiber function.
Sjögren syndrome : An autoimmune disease that commonly causes dry eyes and mouth and can affect other organs. It is an autoimmune condition associated with small-fiber neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy : Damage or disease affecting nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Small fiber neuropathy is one subtype within this broad group.
Autonomic nervous system : The nervous system that regulates involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, sweating, and blood pressure. Small-fiber damage can disrupt these involuntary functions as well as sensation.
Autonomic function testing : Tests that evaluate involuntary cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and sudomotor nerve function. These tests help assess autonomic involvement when small-fiber neuropathy causes related symptoms.
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