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Efficacy of Electrical Stimulation on Nerve Fiber Growth in Small Fiber Neuropathy
1Neuroscience Section, Department of Medicine, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Carilion Clinic Neurology, Roanoke, VA; and.
Objectives:
To define whether electrical nerve stimulation (ENS) therapy would promote intraepidermal nerve growth and nerve regeneration in patients with small fiber neuropathy (SFN).
Methods:
This was a prospective study conducted on 8 subjects with previously diagnosed SFN. Nerve conduction testing, punch biopsies, and clinical examinations with a calculation of revised total neuropathy score were conducted on subjects before beginning ENS therapy and at 30 and 60 days after the start of ENS therapy.
Results:
Clinical examination findings and intraepidermal nerve fiber density measurements on day 30 and day 60 did not show statistically significant changes in the treated group compared with the untreated group.
Conclusions:
Despite the success of previous animal studies, no meaningful nerve growth and regeneration in SFN was demonstrated with ENS therapy in this study. Studies of larger subject larger populations with longer duration of ENS treatment are warranted to confirm our findings.
