ANA Investigates Auto-Antibodies for Small Fiber Neuropathy

Small fiber neuropathy is one of those conditions in neurology that can feel frustratingly intangible. Even for patients with severe neuropathic pain and autonomic symptoms, in about half of cases, the usual lab testing doesn't reveal a cause. There's increasing evidence that autoimmunity may be a factor in some of these cases of idiopathic small fiber neuropathy, but how to test and who to treat with immunosuppression is less clear. Our guest today, Anne Louise Oaklander, is an Associate Professor of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Assistant in Neuropathology. She's known for her work on small fiber neuropathies and in this episode we'll talk about new autoantibodies associated with small fiber neuropathy and where we are in treating this challenging condition. Series 5, Episode 4
Featuring:

• Guest: Dr. Anne Louise Oaklander
• Interviewer: Dr. Adeline Goss
• Disclosures: None

[@catherinesandell6602]

What type of variants would cause this? I have severe symptoms and was told the punch biopsy is unreliable. Then I was tested genetically and they found 3 unknown variants of a connective tissue disorder. The Dr didn’t mention the SFN genes.

[@maryr7593]

SFN has been found prevalent in connective tissue disorders (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome/Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder, Marfans Syndrome), ME/CFS, MCAS, POTS, fibromyalgia, etc.

[@bonesworld7178]

I am 52 yrs old and have always been healthy as an OX. Just over a year ago contracted what I didn't know... Neurology is no help, and don't seem to care, just "here's some gabapentin" I've gone into investigating cardiology. How do I look down the path of autoimmune?

[@maryr7593]

@@bonesworld7178 I went neurology twice over a 5 yr period, both times normal test but SFN isnt diagnosed through regular testing. I didnt know about small fiber neuropathy then. Covid seems to something that can cause SFN. (Or any viral infection or toxin exposure). Cardiology usually high blood pressure issues leading to heart valve issues, etc. POTS (dysautonomia...dizziness when standing) is also treated by cardiology. Try taking more salt for a week. Some folks have indicated taking a tsp of salt daily (either over food or in beverage)...helped them feel better if they didnt have high blood pressure. Your PCP can order inflammation tests.