The Pathological Culprit of Neuropathic Skin Pain in Long COVID-19 Patients: A Case Series
July 2022
in “
Journal of Clinical Medicine
”
neuropathic skin pain burning sensations itching sensations histopathological analysis immunohistochemical analysis hypertrophic glomus vascular bodies S100+ perineural sheath cells nerve branches hypertrophy basophil polysaccharide matrix dermal hyperneury sensory C fibers gabapentin nerve pain skin pain nerve hypertrophy nerve cells nerve fibers nerve sheath nerve branches nerve matrix nerve condition nerve medication
TLDR Long COVID-19 patients with skin pain might have a nerve condition that responds to a medication called gabapentin.
This study examined six long COVID-19 patients experiencing neuropathic skin pain. The patients' symptoms included burning and itching sensations, which were investigated using histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. The study found hypertrophic glomus vascular bodies, hypertrophic S100+ perineural sheath cells, and adjacent hypertrophy of the nerve branches associated with increased basophil polysaccharide matrix. These findings suggest a condition known as "dermal hyperneury", a small nerve hypertrophy condition affecting sensory C fibers. The study also found that low-dose oral gabapentin administered for three months was effective in managing COVID-19-related sensory neuropathic pain. The main limitation of the study was the limited number of skin biopsy samples.
