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Issue: Vol. 563 No. 3 (2026)
Section: Các bài báo
DOI: 10.51298/vmj.v563i3.19119
Date Published: 08/10/2026
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Phan, Đ. A. T., Lê, T. Y. V., Hà, K. T., Phan, H. P. K., Đặng, H. M., & Đặng, T. Q. (2026). QUANTIFICATION OF NERVE FIBER DENSITY IN THE EPIDERMIS FROM SKIN BIOPSY SPECIMEN IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF SMALL NERVE FIBER NEUROPATHY. Vietnam Medical Journal, 563(3). https://doi.org/10.51298/vmj.v563i3.19119

QUANTIFICATION OF NERVE FIBER DENSITY IN THE EPIDERMIS FROM SKIN BIOPSY SPECIMEN IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF SMALL NERVE FIBER NEUROPATHY

Đặng Anh Thư Phan1, , Thị Yến Vy Lê2, Kiều Trang Hà3, Hoàng Phương Khanh Phan4, Hoàng Minh Đặng1, Trần Quân Đặng1
1 Đại học Y Dược TP. HCM
2 Bệnh viện Đại học Y Dược TP. HCM
3 Bệnh viện Thống Nhất
4 Bệnh viện Ngoại thần kinh Quốc tế

Main Article Content

Abstract

Background: This study assesses intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) in skin biopsy samples from patients suspected of small fiber neuropathy (SFN), and describes the clinical characteristics and the relationship between IENFD and sensory neurological symptoms.


Methods: A descriptive case series study was conducted on 10 patients with suspected SFN symptoms. Skin biopsies were taken from standard sites and immunohistochemically stained with PGP 9.5. Intraepidermal nerve fiber density was quantified as the number of fibers/mm of epidermal length and compared to reference values.


Results: The average age of the patients was 52.8 ± 17.3. Reduced intraepidermal nerve fiber density was observed in 100% of the cases. Patients with symptoms of burning pain, paresthesia, and thermal sensory disturbances tend to have a more pronounced decrease in IENFD. Over 70% of cases have associated structural abnormalities of nerve fibers, including nerve fiber beaded or segmented.


Conclusion: Quantifying nerve fiber density in the epidermis is an important diagnostic tool, supporting the identification of SFN in appropriate clinical contexts. Skin biopsy combined with PGP 9.5 staining is highly valuable in the practice of neuropathological diagnosis.

Keywords

SFN, skin biopsy, nerve fiber density, IENFD, PGP 9.5

Article Details

References

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