Small fiber neuropathy
Last updated 18 Aug 2020
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Small fiber neuropathy is a condition characterised by severe pain attacks that typically begin in the feet or hands. As a person ages, the pain attacks can affect other regions. Some people initially experience a more generalized, whole-body pain. The attacks usually consist of pain described as stabbing or burning, or abnormal skin sensations such as tingling or itchiness. In some individuals, the pain is more severe during times of rest or at night. The signs and symptoms of small fiber neuropathy usually begin in adolescence to mid-adulthood.
Description
Small fiber neuropathy is a condition characterised by severe pain attacks that typically begin in the feet or hands. As a person ages, the pain attacks can affect other regions. Some people initially experience a more generalized, whole-body pain. The attacks usually consist of pain described as stabbing or burning, or abnormal skin sensations such as tingling or itchiness. In some individuals, the pain is more severe during times of rest or at night. The signs and symptoms of small fiber neuropathy usually begin in adolescence to mid-adulthood.
Individuals with small fiber neuropathy cannot feel pain that is concentrated in a very small area, such as the prick of a pin. However, they have an increased sensitivity to pain in general (hyperalgesia) and experience pain from stimulation that typically does not cause pain (allodynia). People affected with this condition may also have a reduced ability to differentiate between hot and cold. However, in some individuals, the pain attacks are provoked by cold or warm triggers.
Some affected individuals have urinary or bowel problems, episodes of rapid heartbeat (palpitations), dry eyes or mouth, or abnormal sweating. They can also experience a sharp drop in blood pressure upon standing (orthostatic hypotension), which can cause dizziness, blurred vision, or fainting.
Small fiber neuropathy is considered a form of peripheral neuropathy because it affects the peripheral nervous system, which connects the brain and spinal cord to muscles and to cells that detect sensations such as touch, smell, and pain.
Inheritance patterns
The source lists the following possible inheritance patterns: Autosomal dominant. More than one pattern can apply in different cases.
Related genes
Other names
SFN
SFNP
Small nerve fiber neuropathy
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Further reading and references
- Small fiber neuropathy; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Faber CG, Hoeijmakers JG, Ahn HS, Cheng X, Han C, Choi JS, Estacion M, Lauria G, Vanhoutte EK, Gerrits MM, Dib-Hajj S, Drenth JP, Waxman SG, Merkies IS. Gain of function Nanu1.7 mutations in idiopathic small fiber neuropathy. Ann Neurol. 2012 Jan;71(1):26-39. doi: 10.1002/ana.22485. Epub 2011 Jun 22.
- Faber CG, Lauria G, Merkies IS, Cheng X, Han C, Ahn HS, Persson AK, Hoeijmakers JG, Gerrits MM, Pierro T, Lombardi R, Kapetis D, Dib-Hajj SD, Waxman SG. Gain-of-function Nav1.8 mutations in painful neuropathy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Nov 20;109(47):19444-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1216080109. Epub 2012 Oct 31.
- Hoeijmakers JG, Faber CG, Lauria G, Merkies IS, Waxman SG. Small-fibre neuropathies--advances in diagnosis, pathophysiology and management. Nat Rev Neurol. 2012 May 29;8(7):369-79. doi: 10.1038/nrneurol.2012.97.
- Hoeijmakers JG, Merkies IS, Gerrits MM, Waxman SG, Faber CG. Genetic aspects of sodium channelopathy in small fiber neuropathy. Clin Genet. 2012 Oct;82(4):351-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2012.01937.x. Epub 2012 Aug 7.
- Lauria G, Merkies IS, Faber CG. Small fibre neuropathy. Curr Opin Neurol. 2012 Oct;25(5):542-9. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0b013e32835804c5.
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