Assessment of intraepidermal nerve fiber densities in 5 µm sections from arm and leg – a search for normative age-related values

Authors

  • Linnéa Ekman Department of Translational Medicine, Hand Surgery, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
  • Lars B. Dahlin Department of Translational Medicine, Hand Surgery, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden; Department of Hand Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
  • Elisabet Englund Division of Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17879/freeneuropathology-2024-5815

Keywords:

Intraepidermal nerve fiber density, Skin biopsy, Peripheral neuropathy, Small nerve fiber neuropathy

Abstract

Background and aims: Normative values are lacking regarding intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) in thin sections of 5 µm. Thus, we aimed to assess IENFD in thin sections in a healthy adult population as well as to investigate whether IENFD is related to age, sex, and site of excision.

Methods: Archival skin biopsies or excisions at the Department of Pathology, Lund, Sweden, from arm and leg were collected, re-sectioned, and immunohistochemically stained for Protein Gene Product 9.5 during 2020–2023. Nerve fibers were manually quantified in the 5 µm thin sections, and IENFD was compared between age groups, sex, and excision sites.

Results: IENFDs were evaluated in 602 samples from 591 healthy adults aged 18 to 97 years (295 women, 296 men). Median IENFD values are presented, stratified by age groups, sex, and excision sites. Higher IENFD was observed in the arm compared to the leg, as well as in the proximal compared to the distal leg, however not across all age groups. Levels of IENFD were lower among older adults, compared to all younger groups.

Conclusion: We have presented data on IENFD in thin 5 µm sections from a healthy adult population. Despite differences in IENFD observed across age groups, sexes, and excision sites, no strong conclusions regarding affecting factors could be drawn except that individuals > 65 years present with lower IENFD. Additional research and development of the method are warranted.

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Published

2024-10-11

How to Cite

Ekman, L., Dahlin, L. B., & Englund, E. (2024). Assessment of intraepidermal nerve fiber densities in 5 µm sections from arm and leg – a search for normative age-related values. Free Neuropathology, 5, 24. https://doi.org/10.17879/freeneuropathology-2024-5815

Issue

Vol. 5 (2024)

Section

Original Papers

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Linnéa Ekman, Lars B. Dahlin, Elisabet Englund

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Papers are published open access under the Creative Commons BY 4.0 license. This license lets others distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. Data included in the article are made available under the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication waiver, unless otherwise stated, meaning that all copyrights are waived.