Detection of nerve enlargement with ultrasound and correlation with skin biopsy findings in painful sensory neuropathy associated with Sjögren’s syndrome

Abstract

Objectives We evaluated usefulness of peripheral nerve ultrasound (US) in detecting abnormality in painful sensory neuropathy (PSN) associated with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS), and associations among various clinical factors, US findings, and intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD). Methods We conducted a retrospective, single-center, observational study of patients with pSS-PSN. US image was obtained to measure cross sectional area (CSA) of peripheral nerves and compared with matched pSS control. Results We included 11 patients with pSS-PSN (10 women; age 70.5 ± 5.66) and 17 pSS controls (15 women; age 62.5 ± 16.7). Sural nerve CSA were significantly increased in pSS-PSN group (3.48 ± 1.0 mm2 vs 2.05 ± 0.65 mm2, p = .001). US of sural nerve showed the area under the ROC curve of 0.872 (95% CI, 0.732 − 1). Sural nerve CSA and IENFD of lower leg showed positive correlation. Compared with pSS-PSN patients with abnormal IENFD, those with normal IENFD showed significantly larger sural nerve CSA, and trends toward less systemic disease activity and small fiber impairment with sparing of large fibers. Conclusion US was useful in discriminating pSS patients with PSN from those without. Additionally, US may disclose distinct subsets of pSS-PSN with different clinical findings and IENFD.