Skin biopsy in assessing meralgia paresthetica

Muscle & Nerve
Arada WongmekLan Zhou

Abstract

Meralgia paresthetica is a focal neuropathy caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). The disease can be difficult to assess by neurophysiological or imaging studies. We studied 5 patients who presented to our neuromuscular clinic from April 2012 to December 2014 with a clinical suspicion of meralgia paresthetica and had skin biopsies with intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) evaluation. The mean age at onset was 37.2 (range 21-59) years. There were 4 women and 1 man. Two were obese, 2 wore tight jeans, and 1 had mild diabetes mellitus. IENFD was reduced in the symptomatic proximal thigh in all 5 patients and was also reduced in the asymptomatic thigh in 2 patients. It was normal in the distal leg in 4 patients. Meralgia paresthetica is associated with loss of small intraepidermal nerve fibers. Skin biopsy with IENFD evaluation may be a useful diagnostic tool for this disease.

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Citations

Dec 21, 2018·Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System : JPNS·Maurice SopacuaCatharina G Faber
Mar 3, 2020·Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy·Alan L RussellJan M Keppel Hesselink
Apr 17, 2021·Clinics in Geriatric Medicine·Lan Zhou
Aug 11, 2021·Muscle & Nerve·Franco GemignaniGiovanni Pavesi

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