Lancet neurology
-
Review
The diagnostic challenge of small fibre neuropathy: clinical presentations, evaluations, and causes.
Small fibre neuropathies are a heterogeneous group of disorders affecting thinly myelinated Aδ-fibres and unmyelinated C-fibres. Although multiple causes of small nerve fibre degeneration have been reported, including via genetic mutations, the cause of small fibre neuropathy remains unknown in up to 50% of cases. The typical clinical presentation of small fibre neuropathy is that of a symmetrical, length-dependent polyneuropathy associated with sensory or autonomic symptoms. ⋯ The diagnostic tests to identify small fibre neuropathy include skin biopsy, quantitative sensory, and autonomic testing. Additional tests, such as those measuring small fibre-related evoked potentials and corneal confocal microscopy, might contribute to a better understanding of these neuropathies. Biochemical markers can also help in screening patients for the presence of small fibre neuropathy and to assess disease progression.
-
Comparable data on the global and country-specific burden of neurological disorders and their trends are crucial for health-care planning and resource allocation. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) Study provides such information but does not routinely aggregate results that are of interest to clinicians specialising in neurological conditions. In this systematic analysis, we quantified the global disease burden due to neurological disorders in 2015 and its relationship with country development level. ⋯ Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
-
Better understanding and prediction of progression of Parkinson's disease could improve disease management and clinical trial design. We aimed to use longitudinal clinical, molecular, and genetic data to develop predictive models, compare potential biomarkers, and identify novel predictors for motor progression in Parkinson's disease. We also sought to assess the use of these models in the design of treatment trials in Parkinson's disease. ⋯ Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
-
Biography Historical Article
Andrew Maas (and the bird on his shoulder).