Marklose nervenfasern im Senium und im Sp�tstadium der Thalidomid-Polyneuropathie: quantitativ-elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen

Sural nerve biopsies of four patients, aged 54–76 years, with a predominantly sensory type of neuropathy following high dosages of thalidomide were examined by light and electron microscopy. The present study includes a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of unmyelinated nerve fibers. Despite severe neuropathy, increased numbers of small unmyelinated axons per endoncurial area were noted in all patients. This numerical increase appeared to be independent of aging, since it was not seen in two senile controls, studied at the age of 83 and 88 years. The increase in the endoneurial density of unmyelinated axons, especially of small sized fibers, is likely to be related to regeneration foll…