Abstract
Introduction:
Non–length‐dependent small‐fiber sensory neuropathy (NLD‐SFSN) is not as well characterized as length‐dependent small‐fiber sensory neuropathy (LD‐SFSN).
Methods:
Sixty‐three patients with NLD‐SFSN were compared with 175 patients with LD‐SFSN for their demographics and disease associations.
Results:
Age was younger in those with NLD‐SFSN (45.5 ± 13.1 years) than in those with LD‐SFSN (55.1 ± 11.4 years, P < 0.001). Forty‐six of 63 (73.0%) patients were women in the NLD‐SFSN group, whereas 84 of 175 (48.0%) were women in the LD‐SFSN group (P < 0.001). Disease associations were identified in 26 of 63 (41.3%) patients with NLD‐SFSN, including diabetes or prediabetes in 10 (15.9%), connective tissue diseases in 6 (9.5%), thyroid dysfunction in 4 (6.3%), sarcoidosis in 3 (4.8%), vitamin B~12~ deficiency in 2 (3.2%), and paraproteinemia in 1 (1.6%). Immune‐mediated conditions were present in 9 of 63 (14.3%) patients with NLD‐SFSN and 6 of 175 (3.4%) patients with LD‐SFSN (P = 0.012).
Conclusions:
NLD‐SFSN is more common in women, presents at a younger age, and is more likely to be associated with immune‐mediated conditions than LD‐SFSN. Muscle Nerve 45: 86–91, 2012