Sudomotor dysfunction in patients with gluten neuropathy

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology

Background:

• Gluten neuropathy (GN) is a neurological condition linked to gluten sensitivity (GS).
• Small fiber dysfunction is a potential complication of GN, affecting pain and sweat glands.
• Sudomotor function in GN patients has not been extensively studied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the sudomotor function in patients diagnosed with gluten neuropathy.
• To investigate the extent of small fiber dysfunction in the sweat glands of GN patients.

Main Methods:

• Recruited patients diagnosed with gluten neuropathy.
• Collected clinical and neurophysiological data.
• Measured skin electrochemical conductance (ESC) using SUDOSCAN™ to assess sudomotor function.

Main Results:

• 65.6% of GN patients exhibited abnormal sudomotor function in hands or feet.
• Sudomotor dysfunction did not correlate with neuropathy type, gluten-free diet adherence, disease severity, or duration.
• No significant difference in ESC was observed between painful and painless GN patients.

Conclusions:

• Sudomotor dysfunction is prevalent in approximately two-thirds of gluten neuropathy patients.
• The dissociation between pain and sudomotor dysfunction indicates diverse small fiber involvement in GN.