Reference Values of Intraepidermal Nerve Fiber Density in Children and Small Fiber Neuropathy in Neurometabolic and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children — SFN_children  

Cerebral Palsy Clinical Trial

Official title: Reference Values of Intraepidermal Nerve Fiber Density in Children and Small Fiber Neuropathy in Children With Acquired and Genetic Neurodevelopmental Disorders - An Unrecognized Cause of Pain and Window Into Brain Pathology ? -

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

Background: Small-Fiber-Neuropathy describes the degeneration of mildly or unmyelinated nerve fibers and causes neuropathic pain and autonomic dysfunction. Gold standard for the diagnosis is a small skin punch biopsy from the lower leg and the histological quantification of the intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD). In children, the normal IENFD has not been systematically assessed and normal reference values are needed. In Parkinson´s disease, the neurodegeneration also affects the peripheral nerves and SFN is present already in the early stages. Whether neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in childhood are likewise associated with SFN is largely unknown. The IENFD is age-dependent and declines with age.

Aims: In this study, we are establishing the reference values for the physiological IENFD in children from 0-18 years. Moreover, we are investigating if children with NDDs have a reduced IENFD and if SNF is a clinically relevant cause of pain and autonomic dysfunction.

Clinical Trial Description

n/a

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cerebral Palsy
• Developmental Delay Disorder
• Developmental Disabilities
• Mitochondrial Diseases
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Small Fiber Neuropathy

• NCT number: NCT05645874
• Study type: Observational
• Source: Heinrich-Heine University, Duesseldorf
• Status: Recruiting
• Start date: January 1, 2022
• Completion date: December 30, 2024