Quote:
Originally Posted by glenntaj
--there may be both inflammatory and non-inflammatory etiologies that may or may not show "standard" inflammatory markers. Particularly if there is an autoimmune attack by antibodies specific to antigens on small fiber nerve, this may not show up on the usual inflammatory tests as there may not by the same kind of lymphocytic infiltrates usually associated with measures of inflammatory markers (the damage may be caused by antibodies not only hard to measure but very specific to the individual).
Still, in many small fiber syndromes now designated "idiopathic", autoimmune processes are suspected. These may just be as of yet unPROVEN. It is important to note that most of the antibodies to specific peripheral nerve antigens--the type Dr. Norman Latov listed in his Quest diagnostic advisory paper--have only been discovered/recognized over the last thirty years or so.
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Thank you glenn :-) From your very informative response I understand that this means I do not neccessarily need evidence of inflammation either systemically or within the nerves for this to be immune mediated. It sounds that the list of autoimmune processes or autoantibodies may however be very long and this may mean a specific autoimmune disease may never be found then. I will pursue IVIG ferociously if there is some hope it can help slow progression. I await the day a faulty immune system can be 'cured.' Hopefully in my lifetime!