View Single Post
Old 11-09-2011, 07:00 AM
glenntaj glenntaj is offline
Magnate
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Queens, NY
Posts: 2,857
15 yr Member
glenntaj glenntaj is offline
Magnate
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Queens, NY
Posts: 2,857
15 yr Member
Default Did they test--

--and other areas besides the calf?

What you wrote is consistent, yes, with a small fiber neuroapthy, but it's hard to tell if it's length-dependent or not without a sample from closer to the body core. When my skin biopsies have been done, they've included samples from left calf near ankle, left outside thigh near hip, and left upper arm above elbow, and, at least initially, intraepidermal nerve fiber density was reduced at all locations. (I've gotten more skin biopsies since my initial acute attack in 2003 that have showed re-enervation; last one shows I am up to 11-th percentile of the normal range, and abnormal is normally defined as below the fifth percentile or above the ninety-fifth--a little arbitrary, as no one generally knows what his/her typical nerve fiber density was prior to having symptoms).

The contrast between calf and thigh is probably most indicative of length-dependency.

And, the result says nothing about demyelination; indeed, a skin biopsy doesn't generally sample myelinated nerves.
glenntaj is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote