Important research
This “important” study sheds light on the comorbidities and longitudinal consequences of SFN, wrote Brian Callaghan, MD, with the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and J. Robinson Singleton, MD, with the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, in an accompanying editorial in Neurology.
The study demonstrates clearly that SFN has “metabolic risk factors similar to those seen for sensory predominant peripheral neuropathies affecting a broader range of fiber types. As a result, therapies that address metabolic risk factors are likely to help prevent or treat both conditions,” they wrote.
Dr. Callaghan and Dr. Singleton added that a key strength of the study is the detailed follow-up that examines SFN progression over time. “The authors found that patients with SFN do not report high disability and that progression tends to be slow. Therefore, patients with SFN can be counseled that progression and disability are likely to be modest in most cases. However, when patients do progress quickly, uncommon etiologies should be sought,” the editorialists wrote.
The study was supported by the Mayo Clinic Foundation, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, and Mayo Clinic Center of MS and Autoimmune Neurology. Dr. Klein has received teaching honorarium from Ackea pharmaceuticals for lectures on hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis and Fabry disease, consulted for Pfizer regarding tafamidis (all compensation for consulting activities is paid directly to Mayo Clinic), and participated in the clinical trials for inotersen and patisiran but received no personal compensation for his participation. Dr. Callaghan consults for DynaMed, performs medical legal consultations, including consultations for the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, and receives research support from the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Singleton has consulted for Regenacy.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.