Aslan Tekatas1, Demet Deniz Tekatas2, Volkan Solmaz3, Turan Karaca4, Omer Nuri Pamuk5. 1. Department of Neurology, Medikent Hospital, Kırklareli, Turkey. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Medikent Hospital, Kırklareli, Turkey. 3. Department of Neurology, Memorial Hizmet hospital, 34100, İstanbul, Turkey. solmaz.volkan85@gmail.com. 4. Department of Histology, Trakya University Medical Faculty, Edirne, Turkey. 5. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Trakya University Medical Faculty, Edirne, Turkey.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Evaluating small nerve fibers in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using cutaneous silent period (CSP) and skin biopsy and assesssing the relationship between clinical signs, autoantibodies and neuropathic pain score. OBJECTIVE - METHODS: Fifty one SLE patients and 46 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Nerve conduction studies and CSP were performed both on upper and lower limbs in subjects. Skin biopsy was performed and the number of epidermal nerve density and IL-6 staining were evaluated. RESULTS: In SLE patients, CSP latencies were significantly prolonged both in lower and upper limbs and lower and upper extremity CSP durations were significantly shorter when compared to controls (p < 0.001). The number of epidermal nerve was significantly lower in SLE patients when compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We detected marked small nerve fiber damage in both lower and upper limbs in SLE patients using CSP. Decreased epidermal nerve density also supports this finding.
INTRODUCTION: Evaluating small nerve fibers in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using cutaneous silent period (CSP) and skin biopsy and assesssing the relationship between clinical signs, autoantibodies and neuropathic pain score. OBJECTIVE - METHODS: Fifty one SLEpatients and 46 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Nerve conduction studies and CSP were performed both on upper and lower limbs in subjects. Skin biopsy was performed and the number of epidermal nerve density and IL-6 staining were evaluated. RESULTS: In SLEpatients, CSP latencies were significantly prolonged both in lower and upper limbs and lower and upper extremity CSP durations were significantly shorter when compared to controls (p < 0.001). The number of epidermal nerve was significantly lower in SLEpatients when compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We detected marked small nerve fiber damage in both lower and upper limbs in SLEpatients using CSP. Decreased epidermal nerve density also supports this finding.