Sudomotor dysfunction is one of the most common and earliest neurophysiological manifestations of small fiber neuropathies.In some instances, the small fibers of the autonomic nervous system can be affected, leading to urinary or bowel problems, episodes of rapid heartbeat (palpitations), dry eyes or mouth, or abnormal sweating. They can also experience a sharp drop in blood pressure upon standing (orthostatic hypotension), which can cause dizziness, blurred vision, or fainting. Small fiber neuropathy is considered a form of peripheral neuropathy because it affects the peripheral nervous system, which connects the brain and spinal cord to muscles and to cells that detect sensations such as touch, smell, and pain. Insensitivity to pain can be particularly problematic. One may be bleeding or have a skin injury without even knowing it. Topographic pattern
Like many polyneuropathies, the symptoms are typically length-dependent, starting in the longer nerves and progressively attacking shorter nerves. This means that symptoms often start in the hands and feet before progressing upwards, and that symptoms are usually more severe in the extremities. Some patients have a widespread, non-length dependent, or "patchy", presentation which is sporadic and can affect many nerves. Patients with Fabry disease have isolated small fiber engagement, and can have a more widespread small fiber disruption. Causes
Mutations in the SCN9A or SCN10A gene can cause small fiber neuropathy. These genes provide instructions for making pieces (the alpha subunits) of sodium channels.
In some instances, other health conditions cause this disorder. Diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance are the most common diseases that lead to this disorder, with 6 to 50 percent of diabetics or pre-diabetics developing small fiber neuropathy. Other causes of this condition include a metabolic disorder called Fabry disease, immune disorders such as celiac disease or Sjogren syndrome, an inflammatory condition called sarcoidosis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.Recently several studies have suggested an association between autonomic small fiber neuropathy and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Other notable studies have shown a link between erythromelalgia, fibromyalgia, and Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome. Diagnosis
The diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy often requires ancillary testing. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography are commonly used to evaluate large myelinated sensory and motor nerve fibers, but are ineffective in diagnosing small fiber neuropathies.Quantitative sensory testing (QST) assesses small fiber function by measuring temperature and vibratory sensation. Abnormal QST results can be attributed to dysfunction in the central nervous system. Furthermore, QST is limited by a patients subjective experience of pain sensation. Electrochemical skin conductance and quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing (QSART) measures sweating response at local body sites to evaluate the small nerve fibers that innervate sweat glands.Electrochemical skin conductance  has been evaluated for both early diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy and follow-up of treatment efficacy. Skin biopsy
A skin biopsy for the measurement of epidermal nerve fiber density is an increasingly common technique for the diagnosis of small fiber peripheral neuropathy.