Characterizing Treatable Causes of Small-Fiber Polyneuropathy in Gulf War Veterans

Abstract

Damage to the small nerve fibers that sense pain and regulate function of internal organs results in small-fiber polyneuropathy (SFPN). SFPN symptoms include unexplained chronic widespread pain (CWP) and chronic multisymptom illness (CMI) similar to Gulf War Illness. Our prior research demonstrated that SFPN is prevalent in such CWP and CMI syndromes and that it can have onset at a young age. Given these non-specific symptoms, objective testing is recommended for SFPN diagnosis. In the third year of this study Global experts participated in additional rounds of a Delphi process to determine the most reliable markers for SFPN(Case Definition). We also developed a comprehensive database of SFPN patients and well characterized controls with which to validate the Case Definition. The diagnostic tests recommended under the Case Definition will be applied to Veterans and age-matched controls to look for the prevalence of SFPN.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2017
Accession Number
AD1048423

Entities

People

  • Anne L. Oaklander
  • Max M. Klein

Organizations

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biomedical Research
  • Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena
  • Clinical Trials
  • Databases
  • Delphi Method
  • Department Of Defense
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Electrophysiological Phenomena
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Heart Rate
  • Institutional Review Board
  • Medical Personnel
  • Nerves
  • Neuromuscular Diseases
  • Neuropathy
  • Persian Gulf Syndrome

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Gulf War Illness and Chronic Multisymptom Illness in Veterans.