Corneal Confocal Microscopy to Image Small Nerve Fiber Degeneration: Ophthalmology Meets Neurology



Petropoulos, Ioannis N, Bitirgen, Gulfidan, Ferdousi, Maryam, Kalteniece, Alise, Azmi, Shazli, D'Onofrio, Luca, Lim, Sze Hway, Ponirakis, Georgios, Khan, Adnan, Gad, Hoda
et al (show 9 more authors) (2021) Corneal Confocal Microscopy to Image Small Nerve Fiber Degeneration: Ophthalmology Meets Neurology. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH, 2. 725363-.

[img] PDF
Corneal Confocal Microscopy to Image Small Nerve Fiber Degeneration Ophthalmology Meets Neurology.pdf - Published version

Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

Neuropathic pain has multiple etiologies, but a major feature is small fiber dysfunction or damage. Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a rapid non-invasive ophthalmic imaging technique that can image small nerve fibers in the cornea and has been utilized to show small nerve fiber loss in patients with diabetic and other neuropathies. CCM has comparable diagnostic utility to intraepidermal nerve fiber density for diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia and amyloid neuropathy and predicts the development of diabetic neuropathy. Moreover, in clinical intervention trials of patients with diabetic and sarcoid neuropathy, corneal nerve regeneration occurs early and precedes an improvement in symptoms and neurophysiology. Corneal nerve fiber loss also occurs and is associated with disease progression in multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and dementia. We conclude that corneal confocal microscopy has good diagnostic and prognostic capability and fulfills the FDA criteria as a surrogate end point for clinical trials in peripheral and central neurodegenerative diseases.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: corneal confocal microscopy, neurodegeneration, painful neuropathy, diabetes, biomarker
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Life Courses and Medical Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 26 Oct 2022 08:53
Last Modified: 28 Jun 2023 16:37
DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2021.725363
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3165767