Small Fibre Neuropathy in Parkinson's Disease: Comparison of Skin Biopsies from the More Affected and Less Affected Sides

Abstract

We assessed small nerve fibre degeneration and regeneration in more and less affected sides in Parkinson's disease (PD). Bilateral skin biopsies from 23 PD patients were immunostained for PGP9.5 for Intraepidermal Nerve Fibre Density (IENFD) and GAP-43 for mean axonal length (MAL), total epidermal (TNFL) and subepidermal nerve fibre length (SKTNFL). IENFD (p<0.001) and SKTNFL (p<0.001) were lower, whilst MAL (p<0.001) and TNFL (p<0.05) were higher in more affected versus less affected side. These results suggest increased small nerve fibre degeneration accompanied by enhanced nerve regeneration on the side more affected by PD and GAP-43 usefulness in skin biopsy assessment.