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The density of epidermal axons can be used to diagnose small-fiber neuropathies (as seen in diabetes, HIV/AIDS, amyloidosis, some heritable neuropathies, and leprosy) and to assess the distribution and severity of denervation in these neuropathies.
In this study, the authors used immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and morphometry to study and describe the sequential changes in axons and Schwann cells in skin biopsy samples from two groups of patients. In 10 patients with neuropathy (6 HIV related), the investigators examined the axonal and Schwann-cell changes in nerves undergoing Wallerian degeneration at varying times after nerve transection due to diagnostic sural nerve biopsy (axotomy). They compared these findings to those in nin…