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BMC Neurology
Published in: BMC Neurology 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Study protocol

Impairment of small somatic and autonomic nerve fibres in intensive care unit patients with severe sepsis and critical illness polyneuropathy – a single center controlled observational study

Authors: Hubertus Axer, Alexander Grimm, Christine Porzelius, Ulrike Teschner, Ulrike Schumacher, Otto W Witte, Frank M Brunkhorst

Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Axonal damage in large myelinated nerve fibres occurs in about 70% of patients with severe sepsis, known as critical illness polyneuropathy and contributes significantly to an increased short- and long-term morbidity and mortality in this population. Among other pathophysiological mechanisms, autonomic dysregulation, characterized by high concentrations of circulating catecholamines in the presence of impaired sympathetic modulation of heart and vessels have been discussed. We hypothesize that autonomic small fibre neuropathy play an important role in autonomic failure.

Methods/Design

Single center, non-randomized, controlled, observational study. Skin biopsies of patients with severe sepsis and/or septic shock are compared with those of age-matched controls. In order to assess impairment of small nerve fibres, skin biopsies are taken at onset of severe sepsis, and two and 16 weeks later. Intraepidermal nerve fibre densities are histologically analyzed using anti protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 immunostaining. In addition, standardized clinical examinations, as Medical Research Council (MRC) scores of muscle strength, Rankin scores, and standardized nerve conduction studies of the right median nerve, the right tibial nerve, the left fibular nerve, and both sural nerves are performed, to identify critical illness polyneuropathy and to neurophysiologically quantify the damage of large nerve fibres.

Discussion

The study will allow to describe the frequency of small fibre neuropathy in patients with severe sepsis up to four months after onset of severe sepsis and to evaluate its relationship to critical illness polyneuropathy.

Trial registration

The trial has been registered to the German Clinical Trials Register. The trial registration number is DRKS-ID: DRKS00000642.
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Metadata
Title
Impairment of small somatic and autonomic nerve fibres in intensive care unit patients with severe sepsis and critical illness polyneuropathy – a single center controlled observational study
Authors
Hubertus Axer
Alexander Grimm
Christine Porzelius
Ulrike Teschner
Ulrike Schumacher
Otto W Witte
Frank M Brunkhorst
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Neurology / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2377-13-159

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