The utility of skin biopsy for prediction of progression in suspected small fiber neuropathy.

Twenty-eight patients with sensory complaints of unknown etiology had repeated skin biopsies. Patients with large nerve fiber swellings on initial biopsy showed a decline in epidermal nerve fiber density on repeated biopsies (p < 0.05 within group; p < 0.05 vs those without swellings). Patients without nerve fiber swellings did not have changes in nerve fiber density between biopsies. Patients with large nerve fiber swellings were most likely to present clinically with paresthesias (p < 0.05).