Publication details
Painful sensory neuropathies in the elderly
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2009 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Scripta Medica |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Neurology, neurosurgery, neurosciences |
| Keywords | elderly; intraepidermal nerve fibre density; painful neuropathy; quantitative sensory testing; small and large nerve fibres |
| Description | Painful sensory neuropathies(PSN)are frequently encountered in elderly individuals.Thermal quantitative sensory testing(T-QST),evaluation of intra-(IENFD)and subepidermal nerve fibre densities in skin biopsy samples,nerve conduction studies,autonomic nervous system testing,and clinical neurological examination including detailed assessment of neuropathic symptoms and pain intensity were performed in a group of 25 elderly and 74 non-elderly patients with PSN.Data from 37 age-matched healthy individuals(10 elderly,27 nonelderly)were used.The involvement of small nerve fibres was almost invariably found in both elderly and non-elderly patients and the sensitivity as well as applicability of both methods was similar.An obvious trend to decrease in nerve fibre counts with age was observed in the healthy control group.The dysfunction of large nerve fibres as well as of the autonomic ones was significantly more frequent in elderly neuropathy patients compared to younger age groups. |
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