Abstract Details

Title Skin Denervation Occurrence in Patients with Small Fiber Neuropathy Associated Symptoms Following Covid19 Vaccination and Infection

Topic Neuromuscular and Clinical Neurophysiology (EMG)

Presentation(s) P13 - Poster Session 13 (8:00 AM-9:00 AM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 10-004

Objective

To determine the frequency of skin denervation in patients with SFN-related symptoms following Covid19 vaccination or infection.

Background Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is associated with sensory and autonomic symptoms as well as fatigue, and is evident by skin biopsy which shows a reduction of the intra-epidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) indicating skin denervation. These SFN-related symptoms are commonly reported following Covid19 vaccination and infection, and SFN was reported following both conditions. However, it is not clear if skin denervation is common in patients reporting these symptoms after Covid19 vaccination or infection.

Design/Methods

A cross-sectional chart-review analysis of patients who were referred for a skin biopsy due to SFN-related symptoms during 2021. Patients were included if symptoms began within 1-60 days following Covid19 vaccination or infection.

Results

We identified 22 patients, of which 17 (14 females, mean age 51, range 33-83) reported symptoms following vaccination. These occurred in 10 patients after the 1st, in 5 after the 2nd and in 2 after the 3rd dose, respectively. Symptoms following infection were reported by 5 patients (3 females, mean age 45, range 25-59). The mean time to symptoms onset following vaccination or infection was 9 and 27 days, respectively. All patients reported pain and sensory symptoms. Autonomic symptoms were reported by 8/17 (47%) following vaccination and by 3/5 patients (60%) following infection. Fatigue was reported by 11/17 patients (64%) following vaccination and by all patients following infection. Skin denervation was evident in 13/22 (59%) of patients; in 11/17 patients (64%) following vaccination and 2/5 patients (40%) following infection. Fisher’s exact test showed no correlation between skin denervation and autonomic symptoms (p=0.629) or fatigue (p=0.41).

Conclusions

This small cohort showed that skin denervation occurs in about half of the patients with SFN-related symptoms following Covid19 vaccination or infection.

Authors/Disclosures
Mailam Eltity PRESENTER	Dr. Eltity has nothing to disclose.
Daniela N. Zohar, MD (Department of Neurology)	Dr. Zohar has nothing to disclose.
Amir Dori, MD, PhD (Sheba Medical Center)	Dr. Dori has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for TEVA. Dr. Dori has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Takeda . Dr. Dori has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Sanofi. Dr. Dori has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Medison Pharma. Dr. Dori has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Medison Pharma. The institution of Dr. Dori has received research support from Biogen. The institution of Dr. Dori has received research support from Pfizer. The institution of Dr. Dori has received research support from Alnylam therapeutics. Dr. Dori has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care.

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