Development of new diagnostic and surrogate markers for small fiber neuropathy

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K19184
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Laboratory medicine
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: Masuda Teruaki 熊本大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (50464459)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 小径線維ニューロパチー / アミロイドーシス / 早期診断 / 皮膚生検

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is associated with various diseases, including diabetes and transthyretin-related familial amyloid polyneuropathy (ATTR-FAP). Therefore, early and accurate diagnosis of SFN is becoming increasingly important for the early treatment of ATTR-FAP and diabetic neuropathy. In this study, I investigated which biomarker accurately predicts pathological changes in SFN. The results showed early skin denervation in ATTR-FAP, even in the presymptomatic stage of this disease. Skin denervation was correlated with disease duration and various peripheral neuropathy parameters. Our findings reveal that skin biopsy may be useful for early diagnosis and may serve as a biomarker in clinical trials for SFN.

Free Research Field

病態検査学、アミロイドーシス