Quantitative characteristics of intraepidermal nerve fibers by skin biopsy in healthy Chinese

Abstract

Objective To establish the quantitative standard of intraepidermal nerve fibers in healthy Chinese and provide reference basis for the early diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy through the large sample system of quantitative research by skin biopsy. Methods Adult skin samples of different anatomical locations, age and gender were obtained from 192 healthy volunteers who performed skin biopsies in our hospital from May 2009 to July 2013; they were divided into 6 groups according to different anatomic sites (distal upper arm, distal forearm, opisthenar, proximal thigh, distal crus and acrotarsium) and 4 groups according to the ages (patients under 20 years old, patients of 21-40 years old, patients of 41-60 years old and patients older than 61 years). Quantitative observation of the intraepidermal nerve fibers was performed by skin biopsy and immunohistochemical technique. Half males and half females were chosen. Results The comparison of intra epidermal nerve fiber density(IENFD) among thigh, leg , dorsum of foot and the comparison among upper arm, forearm, dorsum ofhand showed statistical significance (P 320.00 fibers/mm2, forearm>190.57 fibers/mm2, opisthenar>184.37 fibers/mm2, thigh>418.36 fibers/mm2, crus>157.35 fibers/mm2, and acrotarsium> 140.00 fibers/mm2). The IENFD among patients under 20 years old, patients of 21-40 years old, patients of 41-60 years old and patients older than 61 years did not show statistically significant differences (P>0.05). The IENFD between patients under 20 years old and patients older than 61 years showed statistical significance (P 0.05). Conclusions A significant difference of IENFD is observed among different anatomic sites. Ages has small effect on IENFD, and gender has no effect on IENFD. Key words: Intraepidermal nerve fiber density; Skin biopsy; Characteristic and law