What kind of morphological examination? Do they do that examinaton everywhere, o they just simply count nerve fibers loss?

interesting that those who have more than 95% of small fiber nerve density are also abnormal. I wonder what would cause that and what their symptoms would be.

I think there would be genetic variation.

Remember this is a new test...as time passes the database
will grow with time.

You know there are people born with NO pain sensation at all.

i knew someone without a gag reflex.....very dangerous.

--just means the condition of the nerve fibers from the samples taken.

Mine, for example, showed "extensive swelling and and above average degree of branching", which is often indicative of a small-fiber destructive process.

And, that "overbranching" might also lead to an intraepidermal nerve fiber density above the 95th percentile in some people with an ongoing damage process.

I think what is found here is often very dependent on the stage of the neuropathic process being experienced when the skin biopsy is done. If one has it done during an acute episode, one is more likely to find swelling and excessive branching. If one has it done after that, or after a long-term chronic process, one is more likely to find reduced nerve fiber density. The distinction is between nerve fibers in the process of dying and nerve fibers that are already dead and disintegrated.

That is interesting. I wonder if it pays to repeat the skin biopsy?

In my calf area, I had 2 fibers per mm and transverse fibers. That result was from a biopsy done quite a while ago. Seems like mine are dead ducks. My calf area was worse than foot. I am so glad my neuro knew what he was doing because all EMGs were normal.

Would overbranching be an attempt of the body to regrow?

Also, would ALL small fiber neuropathy be found on a skin biopsy? I mean, if one has a negative biopsy, then SFN is not one's problem? I guess a more technical way to word that, is there such a thing as false negatives?

If you do another skin biopsy and everything is alright, that means you shouldn't have more pain? Is the pain proportional to the loss of small fibers?

Not exactly, some people with SFN have no pain, just numbness. It's all conditional.

Hope to hear from you Can one assume with a normal EMG and a normal skin biopsy that he doesn't have NP?
Is a skin biopsy an effective way to evaluate if your nerves are regenerating?

This explains the types of pain.
http://www.helpforpain.com/arch2000dec.htm